Liam Paro becomes world champion in huge upset over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico

Liam Paro just shocked the world and scored one of the greatest wins in Australian boxing history. BRENDAN BRADFORD reports on what’s next for the Mackay marvel.

Liam Paro’s win was a huge upset. Picture: Supplied

Liam Paro overcame the odds - and some truly shocking refereeing - to fulfil the world title promise he made to his best mate in one of the greatest upset performances in Australian boxing history.

The Mackay boxer put on a masterclass against the fearsome punching power of Subriel Matias in his home country, to claim the IBF super-lightweight world title in Puerto Rico.

In a win that sits alongside Jeff Horn’s victory over Manny Pacquiao, and George Kambosos Jr’s upset of Teofimo Lopez, the $5 outsider Paro claimed the belt with scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111.

Paro’s bold world title tilt nearly came undone at the hands of referee Luis Pabon, who consistently warned Paro for minor infringements and inexplicably deducted a point for holding.

Paro put on a masterclass. Picture: Supplied

The victory sees Paro fulfil the childhood promise he made with his best mate, Regan Grieve. A promising footy player, Grieve died by suicide in 2015, and Paro has his initials and the words: Conquer the World tattooed on his ribs.

Mission accomplished.

“That means the world to me,” an emotional Paro said of his promise to Grieve. “All we’ve got in this life is our word, and to be a man of mine on the highest scale, it means the world to me.

“I’m stoked. RG, baby, I made a promise to my friend who passed away, and I’m a man of my word.

“All the people who said I couldn’t do it, it’s Paro time!

“(Matias) hits hard, he’s tough and he’s got 20 knockouts for a reason. But I’ve been hit harder in life than that. I’ve got the heart of a warrior and I showed that.”

HES DONE IT! @ParoLiam is the NEW IBF World Junior Welterweight Champion 👑

📝 115-112, 115-112, 116-111 #MatiasParopic.twitter.com/feo9NYeOME

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 16, 2024

Paro now holds a belt in one of the most stacked divisions in boxing, and could line up fights with the likes of Lopez, Devin Haney and Isaac Cruz.

“I want everyone,” he said, when asked what’s next. “I’ve proved I’m at the top.

“All the big guys, let’s go. I’m the boogeyman, I’m the captain, come and get it.”

Promoter, Eddie Hearn, said Paro’s first title defence could come on home soil.

“He’s the one that had the cojones to come here and he’s just won the 140-pound title against one of the most dangerous men in his back yard,” he said. “It’s a massive win for Australian boxing.

“I’d love to bring him home to Australia. He’s been on the road for a long time fighting all these big fights.

“I’d love to see him defend that championship in Australia. He deserves it.

“We know the Australian governments support big-time boxing, and Liam Paro became a big name tonight. You’ve got Ryan Garcia, Pitbull Cruz and Teofimo Lopez.

“It’s a huge night for Australian boxing.”

Paro opened the bout aggressively against the traditionally slow-starting Matias, who spent the first round gauging the Aussie’s output.

Matias came alive in the second, snapping Paro’s head back with a sharp right hand, before going to his body.

Paro fought fire with fire though, and answered back with power shots of his own.

After the second round, referee Pabon bizarrely warned Paro for leading with his head.

Point deduction for Paro 😮 #MatiasParo | @DAZNBoxingpic.twitter.com/daKqOj0GLp

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 16, 2024

Pabon halted the action in the fourth to warn Paro again about holding in the clinch.

In the biggest fight of his life, Paro threw more shots, while the powerful Matias looked for the knockout, getting the 10,000 strong crowd on its feet with a huge finish to the sixth round.

In his worst moment of an awful night, Pabon shockingly deducted a point from Paro for holding in the seventh.

Pabon’s decision infuriated the commentary crew, with former fighter Sergio Mora calling it disgraceful.

Pabon warned Paro again in the eighth round, before the Aussie gave Matias a bloody nose with a pinpoint right hand.

Paro was forced to dig deep in the closing rounds, as an increasingly desperate Matias looked for the knockout blow.

But the kid from Far North Queensland, fighting in the memory of his childhood best mate, finished strongly.

There was an agonisingly long wait as ringside officials tallied the scores, with fears spreading that Paro might be robbed in enemy territory.

But the decision was turned in, and Paro returns to Australia as its newest world champion.

Promoter, Eddie Hearn, said Paro’s first title defence could come on home soil.

“He’s the one that had the cojones to come here and he’s just won the 140-pound title against one of the most dangerous men in his backyard,” Hearn said. “I’d love to bring him home to Australia.

“He’s been on the road for a long time fighting all these big fights.

“I’d love to see him defend that championship in Australia. He deserves it.

“We know the Australian governments support big-time boxing, and Liam Paro became a big name tonight. You’ve got Ryan Garcia, Pitbull Cruz and Teofimo Lopez.

“It’s a huge night for Australian boxing.”

Originally published as Liam Paro becomes world champion in huge upset over Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico