Twelve months after stunning Subriel Matias and six after surrendering his crown to Richardson Hitchins, former super-lightweight champion Liam Paro will strap the gloves back on in front of his own people. The 28-year-old Queenslander headlines a No Limit Boxing card on June 25 at the Cairns Convention Centre, facing California’s once-beaten Jonathan Navarro in a bout tailor-made to reignite his title charge.
Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) admits the itch to box “back where I first dreamed of becoming a world champion” has long lingered. The southpaw’s resume already boasts the upset of Matías in Puerto Rico, but a narrow defeat to Hitchins snapped his unbeaten run and left him hovering near the top of both WBO and IBF rankings rather than in the champion’s chair. “I belong at the top of this sport,” Paro declared, promising a “clinic” for the home crowd and calling out Teófimo López, a Hitchins rematch, and even friendly spar-mate Rolando Romero for future showdowns.
Watch Paro vs. Hitchins highlights: Watch
Navarro (18-1, 9 KOs) arrives as a sizeable underdog, having dropped a decision to Jair Valtierra - himself shut out by Raymond Muratalla and Lindolfo Delgado. Still, the Californian’s tidy fundamentals and stubborn chin have earned him reputation as a spoiler, and Paro insists complacency is off the table: “He’s 18-1 for a reason. Tough lad, but business is business.”
The evening doubles as a showcase for Aussie southpaws named Liam: former featherweight challenger Liam Wilson (15-3, 8 KOs) looks to keep momentum rolling against Argentina’s durable Ayrton Osmar Gimenez (22-1, 4 KOs) in the chief support. Wilson, fresh off a second win over Youssef Dib, knows a statement could catapult him back into the 130-pound mix.
Fight card:
▪️Liam Paro vs. Jonathan Navarro, 10 rounds, welterweight
▪️Liam Wilson vs. Ayrton Osmar Gimenez, 10 rounds, for the vacant WBO International super featherweight title
▪️Vegas Larfield vs. Bryan Cabrillos, 6 rounds, featherweight
▪️Kirra Ruston vs. Kartik Kumar, 6 rounds, cruiserweight
▪️Callum Peters vs. Anthony Hoarali, 6 rounds, middleweight
▪️Aaron Stahl vs. Caden Russo, 6 rounds, welterweight
▪️Thomas Warria vs. Ricky Sandral, 4 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Laphya Reuben vs. Quinton Smith, 4 rounds, middleweight
