Aussie superstar Liam Paro is gunning to become the IBF welterweight title holder with a win over Lewis Crocker in a heavily-anticipated bout.
Meanwhile, NRL enforcer-turned-boxer Nelson Asofa-Solomona once again had his hand raised after his bout with fellow prop George Burgess.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker plus ex-NRL beasts collide as Nelson Asofa-Solomona faces George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Read below for all the latest updates from the Paro v Crocker card!
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FULL CARD
MAIN CARD (via Kayo Sports and Main Event)
Lewis Crocker vs Liam Paro – IBF welterweight title
Nelson Asofa-Solomana def. George Burgess – Heavyweight
Demsey McKean def. Liam Talivaa – Heavyweight
Luke Modini def. Peng Qu – Cruiserweight
PRELIMS (via Kayo Sports and Fox Sports CH507)
Stevan Ivic def. Caleb Tialu – Heavyweight
Jack Javed def. Lance MacDonald – Super welterweight
Vegas Larfield vs Shamal Ram Anuj – Featherweight
Riley Candy vs Brayden Rawlins -Super middleweight
READ MORE
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know
FIGHTING WORDS: Gal’s $1m fight demand — and that’s a ‘discount’
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: ‘Righto boys, we’re going to the pub’: The bareknuckle bloodlines behind Burgess fight
WEIGH-INS: Savage Crowe taunt as champ does runner; dual G-banger face-off stuns
Big NAS v Burgess: Final face-off | 01:04
BIG NASTY GETS IT DONE
It was a genuine slugfest, but Nelson Asofa-Solomona has continued his surge as crossover boxing’s biggest star with a win over George Burgess.
The former premiership-winner tried valiantly to land a haymaker on Asofa-Solomona, but was no match as the man donned ‘Big Nasty’ evaded and landed the biggest of the punches.
Burgess did well to stay on his feet after the first round, and then landed a handful of punches in the second, scoring with some short efforts but ended it with a bloodied face.
In the third, NAS landed a wave of punches but Burgess bravely remained on his feet — until his team threw the towel in.
“He was tough and he was willing, but Nelson, he was just dominant there,” Ben Damon said.
“Gee he dug deep George Burgess… this was how it finished, crack.”
Asofa-Solomona even caught the towel and gave Burgess a rub on the face for his troubles.
“He goes and helps him out, Adam Gilchrist would have been proud of that catch,” Damon added.
FORMER BRONCOS’ STUNNING DISPLAY
He’s renowned for being one of Australia’s hardest-hitting boxers, but Luke Modini could have gone down a very different path.
The unbeaten 29-year-old continued his run with a win over Peng Qu on Wednesday, showcasing his brutal power with a overhand left saw his Chinese opponent slump to the canvas.
Late in the third, Qu couldn’t continue as the referee ended the bout.
“Modini has arrived with the bang that was expected,” Ben Damon said.
But it was at 20-years-old Modini decided to focus on boxing full time, leaving a potential rugby league career behind.
The rising star was playing for the Broncos’ under 20s side at the time and had trained alongside the likes of Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan according to Code Sports.
“If you talk to anyone in boxing, they talk about how explosive Luke Modini is,” George Rose said prior to his bout.
“He is an absolute threat in the cruiserweight division, he will set crowds alight.”
Modini also revealed he is eyeing off a bout with fellow cruiserweight and superstar Jai Opetaia.
“The last few years I have been thinking about a fight with Jai Opetaia,” he said.
“One day we will cross path and make it a super fight for Australia.
“When that time comes, I will make sure I’m ready for him.”
TALIVAA’S UGLY BARRAGE
That was nasty.
Liam Talivaa was hammering Demsey McKean in their heavyweight bout, but he wouldn’t go down.
“Credit to McKean, he took some big shots… but then he showed his skill,” Danny Green said.
And show his skill he did, taking back the momentum when Talivaa tired before finishing the fight in the fourth via TKO with some damaging blows.
“A memorable, albeit brief, all-out war,” Ben Damon said.
“That was crazy.”
ROSE BACKS PARO GAMBLE
No Limit CEO George Rose has backed his decision to gamble more than $1 million on Liam Paro, joking the Queenslander will earn himself “a trillion dollar valuation” once he wins the IBF welterweight title.
Back in February, Fox Sports Australia revealed how the Australian promoters had landed the nation’s biggest ever purse bid to secure Paro a shock title challenge in his own backyard – with their $1.12 million offer beating Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom by just $27,000.
“But I believe in Liam Paro,” Rose said this week.
“And that’s why we’re putting it all on the line. Because remember, we’ve come from nothing too. We’re not rolling in money but we believe in Liam Paro.
“And we believe having the fight in his backyard makes a massive difference. [Laughs] Plus once Liam Paro wins the IBF crown, he’s got a trillion dollar valuation. Rolly Romero, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia … they’re life changing fights, life changing money and life changing opportunity. A win gets him the belt, and the belt opens every door in that division.”
Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) enters as the mandatory challenger to the unbeaten Northern Irishman Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs), who will make the first defence of the title he won earlier this year.
The Belfast fighter is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and arrives in Australia determined to spoil the hometown party.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for the Queenslander. Paro was originally scheduled to face fellow Irishman Paddy Donovan in a world-title eliminator on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu’s showdown with Michael Zerafa before Donovan was forced out through injury, opening the door to a title shot against Crocker.
The card also features several intriguing support bouts, including a heavyweight grudge match between former NRL enforcers Nelson Asofa-Solomona and George Burgess.
Heavy-hitting cruiserweight Luke Modini also returns to the ring for his biggest test yet, while Demsey McKean and Liam Talivaa square off in a fascinating heavyweight matchup.
CHAMP’S HEAVYWEIGHT STATEMENT
Stevan Ivic has delivered a statement display, downing Caleb Tialu in a heavyweight bout to open the main card.
Ivic, who is the current Australian heavyweight title-holder, beat his opponent down wih a wave of punches, before a number of body shots saw Tialu unable to continue.
The referee called for the stoppage to secure Ivic’s win, in what was a comprehensive display which marked his first stoppage win in more than three years.
“He’s taken a beating,” Danny Green said.
“When you’re on the side of the face, it’s a different pain… you see black.”
Now, according to The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel, Ivic is lining up a fight with ‘The Bull’.
“He’s a very good technician, he’s not the most powerful,” Pete Badel said.
“Next Brandon Grach I am hearing.”
WHAT TIME DOES IT START?
The prelims will start at 6:00 PM AEST.
The main card begins at 7:00 PM AEST.
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