‘It’s a blessing’: Champion boxer Liam Paro thrilled to have racehorse named after him
Aussie boxer Liam Paro has a steely focus on defending his IBF super-lightweight title in Puerto Rico this weekend but could soon be watching a racehorse named after him making its debut.
Champion Australian boxer Liam Paro will aim to defend his IBF super-lightweight title in Puerto Rico this weekend and could soon be cheering a horse named after him to make a knockout racing debut.
Queenslander Paro will step into the ring against slick New Yorker Richardson Hitchens and a win could set him up for a blockbuster bout against former unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos in mid-2025.
While boxer Paro currently has a laser focus on the bout in Puerto Rico, his namesake, three-year-old rookie gelding Paro, may not be far off making his racing debut.
A $300,000 Magic Millions buy, Paro is trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman in Victoria and owned by Queenslanders Ron and Judy Wanless.
As he prepares for his big fight, Paro told News Corp the personal significance of the naming of the horse.
“Mr Wanless was a long-term sponsor of mine from the start when I was young and first started out,” Paro said.
“His support meant the world to me as it allowed me to strictly focus on becoming the champion I knew I would always be.
“It’s a blessing that he has chosen to name a racehorse after me (Paro) and with a name like that, the horse is destined to be a champion on the track like I’m a champion in the ring.”
Wanless, the legendary Queensland scrap metal merchant who has enjoyed Group 1 success with the likes of Amalfi and Lights Of Heaven, said he hadn’t told Paro he was going to name a horse after him.
Paro (the horse) could potentially make his debut as soon as next week and also holds a nomination for the $3m Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in January.
Boxing writers have hailed Paro’s boilover world title win against Subriel Matias in June alongside Kambosos’ upset victory over Teofimo Lopez in 2021 as one of the greatest moments in Australian boxing.
- By Ben Dorries and Peter Badel
Originally published as ‘It’s a blessing’: Champion boxer Liam Paro thrilled to have racehorse named after him
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