Liam Paro has abandoned the super-lightweight scene and will campaign at welterweight, declaring he wants to lure Manny Pacquiao back to Australia for a stadium fight.
Paro, 29, became IBF champion at 140 lbs by upsetting Subriel Matías in Puerto Rico last year but surrendered the belt to Richardson Hitchins in December. He rebounded five weeks ago with a stoppage of Jonathan Navarro at a catch-weight in Cairns and was then ordered into an IBF final eliminator against unbeaten Mexican Lindolfo Delgado.
Watch Paro vs. Hitchins highlights: Watch
Speaking on Main Event’s broadcast of Masson-Parker, the south-paw confirmed he has pulled out of that eliminator, citing the grind of making 140: “I conquered the world at 140; I’ve been doing it since I was 18. At 29 it’s harder to make the weight. It’s time to chase a title at welterweight.”
Paro wants the division’s marquee names and singled out Pacquiao, who lost a contentious decision to Jeff Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in 2017. "The legend, my favourite fighter, Manny Pacquiao, is back in boxing. Get me a belt and bring him to Australia - I’m sure he wants one back at Suncorp."
Pacquiao, 46, boxed WBC champion Mario Barrios to a draw last month and remains intent on extending his record as the oldest welterweight title-holder. Paro knows he will likely need a strap of his own to tempt “Pac-Man” Down Under.
With Paro gone from 140 lbs, Keyshawn Davis is expected to replace him against Delgado in the IBF eliminator, which would be Davis’s first outing since losing his lightweight title on the scales in June.
Image Credit: DAZN