Liam Paro, Liam Wilson, set to headline No Limit’s first boxing show in Cairns

Liam Paro is coming home to headline a historic card in north Queensland as the Mackay mauler vowed to conquer the world again in honour of the Cowboys best mate he lost too soon.

Liam Paro is coming home to headline a historic card in north Queensland as the Mackay mauler vowed to conquer the world again in honour of the Cowboys best mate he lost too soon.

Boxing sensation Paro and fellow Queenslander Liam Wilson will spearhead a blockbuster No Limit promotion on Wednesday, June 25 in Fox Sports’ maiden show in Cairns.

Nicknamed ‘The Prodigy’, Paro has signed a deal with No Limit, Australia’s No. 1 boxing promotional powerhouse which helped turn Tim Tszyu into a world champion.

Tszyu’s promoters have big plans for Queensland duo Wilson and Paro, who is returning to fight on home soil after a six-year hiatus in the tropics.

The 29-year-old became a world champion last year when he shocked Subriel Matias in a Puerto Rican boilover, only for Paro to lose the IBF super lightweight strap in his next fight against Richardson Hitchins in December.

Now Paro (25-1) is ready to rise again, starting the climb to the world-title summit in his showdown with American Jonathan ‘Thunder’ Navarro (18-1) at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Liam Paro shocked Subriel Matias to win the IBF super lightweight title. Picture: Amanda Westcott/Matchroom

“It’s a real homecoming for me,” said Paro, who last fought in north Queensland at Mackay in 2019.

“I’ve always wanted to fight back in Queensland. It’s where I grew up and where I first dreamed of becoming a world champion.

“I never got the chance to do that when I held the belt, but that’s about to change.

“I’ve been chasing fights all over the world for years, but now with No Limit behind me, we’re bringing big-time boxing to Queensland.

“This fight in Cairns is just the beginning.”

Caboolture product Wilson takes on Argentina’s Ayrton Gimenez (22-1, 4KO), but all eyes will be on Paro in his first Australian fight since his savage first-round knockout of Brock Jarvis in 2022.

Liam Wilson will take on Argentina’s Ayrton Gimenez. Picture: Scott Davis / Ace Boxing

A north Queensland tragedy is driving Paro. In 2015, former Cowboys young gun Regan Grieve, Paro’s best mate, tragically took his life.

Paro carried his coffin, made a pledge to win a world title for Grieve and when he fulfilled his promise by upsetting Matias last year, he had the initials ‘RG’ on his trunks.

Now, a decade after the tragedy which rocked the NRL, Paro is back on Grieve’s turf, fighting on for his great mate’s legacy.

“I don’t want Regan to ever be forgotten and I’m doing that,” he said.

“I hope I’m making him proud.

“I want to get that world title back and become a pay-per-view star in this country.

“It’s huge to be in the same stable as Tim Tszyu, he is all class and we’ve seen how he has skyrocketed on the Aussie scene and went overseas to Las Vegas.

“I want to do the same.

“But first I want to be fighting for unified world titles here in Australia and handing out beatings, mark my words.”

Liam Paro congratulates Richardson Hitchens after their super-lightweight world title fight in Puerto Rico. Picture: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

No Limit boss Matt Rose said he is keen to eventually bring a Paro world-title bout to Queensland after the Jeff Horn-Tszyu blockbuster in Townsville in 2020.

“Liam is a world-class talent,” Rose said.

“We are keen to bring world-title fights to Queensland and seeing Paro on home soil is something the locals will be excited about.

“If Liam wins this next fight, he will be back in contention for a world title so that’s how close he is to conquering the world again.

“Cairns has a first-class venue in the Convention Centre and the north Queensland region can host a world-title fight.

“We had the Tszyu-Horn fight in Townsville and I believe Liam Paro can be a huge star in Australia.

“This card is stacked – Liam Paro and Liam Wilson are ready to light up Cairns.”

Originally published as Liam Paro, Liam Wilson, set to headline No Limit’s first boxing show in Cairns