So Liam Paro is kicking back in the bowels of Pat Rafter Arena on Wednesday night, stitches above his left eye, dark swelling around the right, and a pained smile emanating from beneath that black Crocodile Dundee hat.
“Sometimes,” he grins, “you just gotta bite down”.
Yep, call it a truth proved by that IBF welterweight strap sat now on a table in front of him.
A chunk of gold earned in the toughest of ways.
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And one that now has this knockabout Mackay slugger eyeing off, in no particular order, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, global attention, purses measured in millions, Jeff Fenech legacy, Las Vegas blockbusters, Rolly Romero, maybe Manny Pacquiao … hell, the bloke could even assist in Paul Gallen’s $1 million comeback.
“Oh, man, I just made history,” Paro continued, having not only dethroned fighting Irishman Lewis Crocker, but got there via a performance tougher than even the crocodile skin robe he wore into the ring.
“You can’t take that from me. I made history. I had to dig deep, my back was against the wall … but I come out fighting.”
Didn’t he what?
Almost two years to the day since upsetting Subriel Matias for the IBF super lightweight title in Puerto Rico, Paro has now gone and created Australian sports history by winning a second strap, in a second division.
And against a champion too who right up until the final bell, was scrapping like a fella well aware of all those opportunities — and bagfuls of cash — that come with said trinket.
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Paro overcomes Crocker for world title | 05:30
Wonderfully too, the effort came on a night too where Nelson Asofa-Solomona went and cemented his reputation as Australia’s new crossover king — and a potential showdown against Paul Gallen — while Stevan Ivic also declared himself ready for a domestic showdown with hyped heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana.
Out of cracking night, here are eight key talking points.
1. Is Liam Paro now Australia’s greatest fighter, pound for pound?
Certainly No Limit promoter George Rose believes he is.
Sat beside a battered Paro on Wednesday night, Rose insisted the Queenslander is now the nation’s greatest fighter, and ahead of even the man who has spent more than a year carrying the crown – Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia.
Apart from having now won world titles in two divisions since 2024, and inked his name alongside no less than Jeff Fenech, Paro has also done it in what is considered boxing’s most glamorous division.
“So hands down, he’s the best we’ve got,” Rose declared. “Look at the people he’s faced, the quality of opposition he’s beat, and what he has just done tonight … he’s the best.
“He had blood pouring out of one eye, the other looked like it was starting to close up, but he still boxed beautifully, kept his composure, didn’t panic … one of the bravest performances we’ve seen from an Australian fighter.
“Liam Paro showed he truly is elite level. He showed his boxing skills early, showed his toughness at the back end, showed that true Aussie spirit. Liam Paro isn’t now one of the greatest Australian boxers of all time but one of the great Australian sportsmen. Not many people will do what he achieved tonight.”
2. Who is next for Paro?
More than winning a world title, Paro now boasts gold – and therefore, pulling power – in boxing’s new glamour division, and where all three fellow champs are American megastars … Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero.
A quick check of the welterweight rankings and you’ll also come across names like the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Englishman Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez and Keyshawn Davis.
Of course, there is also a chance Paro’s first defence could come against another fighting Irishman Paddy Donovan, who despite losing twice against Crocker has now pushed himself back into No.1 spot after winning an eliminator against Karen Chukhadzhian.
3. Is Paul Gallen worth $1 million?
Say what you like about footballers fighting – plenty do – but there is no doubting the hype that would surround an Australian crossover blockbuster between Paul Gallen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
NAS, of course, is now undefeated in three straight, after stopping a gutsy George Burgess who certainly did his bareknuckle bloodlines proud.
Moreover, and despite being only seven months into his new life as ‘Big Nasty’, Asofa-Solomona has also declared himself ready to face the man who previously held his title of Australian crossover king – Gallen.
As confirmed this week, No Limit are already in talks to bring Gal out of fighting retirement for one more showdown, albeit with the NSW Origin great reportedly requesting a $1 million purse.
Burgess throws in towel as NAS dominates | 00:42
“And if the money is right for Gal, he will make that step,” NAS declared. “So it’s up to No Limit. If they want to throw the bag at Gal I’m sure they’ll get him out of bed.”
Think you finish him?
“With all due respect,” the former Stormer continued, “I’ve finished all my opponents so far. So I’ve got full confidence I can finish anyone.”
Elsewhere, the man who walked out on the NRL to fight also took a jab at North Queensland prop Matt Lodge, declaring of a potential bout: “He might be off contract at the end of the year so he’s probably looking for a bit of money. But that’s two big boys and he can talk a bit too which is good. He can sell the fight. If we have that fight there would be animosity there for sure.”
4. No Limit rolled the dice and won big
There are many reasons Liam Paro wakes a world champion this morning – among them his undeniable grit, boxing brilliance, and that chin you reckon could likely take repeated thwacks from a shovel.
Undeniably too, huge credit also must go to promoters No Limit.
Apart from initially getting Paro an eliminator against Paddy Donovan, or then successfully petitioning for mandatory once the Irishman withdrew, the Rose boys also got Wednesday night’s fight staged Down Under thanks to a $1.12 million gamble – aka the largest Australian purse bid win ever.
Is Paro successful if this same fight is somewhere in the UK? Maybe. But there is no doubting the Mackay slugger benefited greatly from having the fight in his own backyard, and heading into that final round with the whole crowd standing and willing him on.
“We’re not rich people,” promoter George Rose said afterwards. “We started from nothing and are now here, up against billionaire promoters from all across the world. But we believe in Liam Paro. And we’ll happily put everything on the line for this guy because we know he’s a world champion. And regardless of what it cost, or what it took to get here, it was worth it.”
Speaking afterwards, Paro’s trainer Alfie DiCarlo – who is also due plenty of praise –conceded that during their time with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing “we were probably seen as the B Team … but Liam was just that thorn in the side that kept winning”.
“But when we signed with No Limit,” he continued, “everything promised, they’ve delivered. You boys are like family and mean the world to us. We’re forever in your debt.”
5. Is Australia’s Teremoana Jnr set for a domestic title blockbuster?
Of all the undercard storylines from this night, the most notable has to be Australian heavyweight champ Stevan Ivic declaring himself ready for a massive title defence against undefeated rising star Teremoana Jnr.
And wonderfully, after also taking a subtle shot at the level of rivals being pitched at the man no less than UK promoter Eddie Hearn is already calling a future world champion.
Importantly, and rather than simply having Team Teremoana call him out, Ivic also suggested “Uncle Eddie” stump up the cash for a domestic bout.
“Oh, 100 per cent,” Ivic grinned when asked if he was keen for the undefeated prospect who has called for a shot at his title. “There are plenty of good fights out there and if they make an offer compelling enough, I’m happy for a house deposit … [laughs] especially in this economy.
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Ivic PUMMELS Tialu to get TKO | 00:27
“You know the saying, the rising tide lifts all ships. And I’m in that harbour. I’m trying get a damn house in this economy. I can’t work enough hours to get one myself, so if Uncle Eddie wants to help out that would be good.”
And as for his thoughts on the level of opponent Teremoana has been fighting?
“Level of opponents he’s fighting? No comment,” Ivic grinned. “I don’t know why he’s … ah, he’s clearly capable of fighting anyone. But him and his team are getting those opponents for whatever reason. I don’t know. But I’m not too worried about it. I’m worried about what I’m doing”.
Special mention also to Demsey McKean winning his incredible heavyweight slobberknocker against Liam Talivaa, while undefeated cruiserweight Luke Modini also demolished China’s Peng Qu. Both men created some exciting opportunities after winning IBF regional straps.
6. Was Paro’s win clearer than the scorecards suggested?
After the final bell on Wednesday night, all three judges scored the bout 115-113 — which surprised Paro, his coach Alfie DiCarlo, even promoter George Rose.
“But I’m biased as f***,” Rose laughed afterwards. “Counting the first seven rounds, there was nothing I gave away. I thought Liam dominated. But then you see his eye get hit, it was starting to close, I know he said he could still see fine, but you could see how puffed up that eye was …”
Said Paro: “I thought I was in more control [than the scores suggested]. Every round was competitive but I thought I edged them. I was confident.
“I knew I’d won that fight comfortably. I really did. Obviously the tail end, rounds 10, 11, 12 – once the cut happened – then, yeah, I was biting down and fighting. But I was comfortable I won the early rounds. Right up until the ninth, I was comfortable.”
7. Paro is now a 2026 Fight of the Year contender
Undeniable after an incredibly gutsy win that saw the Queenslander finish not only bloodied and with claret pouring into his left eye, or the right eye closing, but even twice being sent to the ringside physician for analysis … including in that incredibly tense final round.
Asked about the blood afterwards he grinned: “It was a head clash in the heat of battle. We’re fighting. My eye was f***ing blurry. There was blood in it. I just thought ‘get a way out of here or you’re going to be on the canvas’.
“It’s the heat of battle. It’s just try to fight back. Try to fight and crack him back. Nothing much is going through your brain … just fight.”
Soon after, he continued: “I didn’t know the state of the cut but when I saw the claret spraying around everywhere I thought it must’ve been decent. I’ve had the doc stitch it up now so it’s battle scars. Chicks dig scars.”
And as for what issues the closing right eye was giving him?
“Nah, this side is fine,” he grinned. “We’re not playing marbles. We’re in their fighting. It’s just love taps. Crocker did come and press, he was there the whole fight. But near the end I felt the urgency from him. He knew he was behind and we just had to weather the storm.”
8. Have a crack at buying Big Nasty’s shorts
Immediately after his fight, Nelson Asofa-Solomona removed his shorts in the ring and declared he would be auctioning them off, with all money going directly to South Sydney’s Jai Arrow, who is battling motor neurone disease.
George Burgess, who lost his father to the same, also suggested he would be doing the same.
Asked about Arrow afterwards, NAS said: “I played him last year and, while he most probably had [MSD] in his system, I remember he was trying to take my head off. He’s got that mongrel in him, that dog.
NAS and Burgess pay tribute to Jai Arrow | 00:48
“So for him to go through a whole season having that, it shows his character. He’s always trying to pump up his team and send a message to the opposition … and he definitely sent a message to me that day.
“Like everyone, I got emotional [when hearing his story] and he was definitely at the forefront of my mind going into this fight.”
NAS also paid tribute to Burgess.
“He was a big dude. Thick as, neck,” he grinned. “So it was hard to knock him out.
“As I said from the start, he’s a bit of an actor but he’s a warrior, too. It takes balls to get in there and he was swinging from the rafters for sure. But I did what I needed to do to avoid those shots.”
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