Liam Paro (25-0) has welcomed a potential State of Origin-style showdown with George Kambosos (21-3) next year, labelling it the biggest domestic fight since Anthony Mundine’s grudge match with Danny Green back in 2006.
The reigning IBF super lightweight champion has recently been linked to a fight with Kambosos, who has now made the move up in weight after previously winning the lightweight world title.
Kambosos’ recent decision to sign a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, who also represent Paro, has lent weight to the talks.
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Before then, Paro must defend his belt against undefeated American Richardson Hitchins (18-0) in Puerto Rico on December 7 (Dec. 8 in Australia).
The bout sees the 28-year-old return to the country in which he scored an upset win over Subriel Matias to claim the strap in enemy territory back in June.
“My target is strictly locked on Hitchins and having a dominating win but it’s a no-brainer,” Paro told Sporting News regarding the Kambosos rumours.
“That’s the biggest fight since Mundine vs. Green in Australia.
“We’ve both got very creditable resumes and we’ll square off in the near future, for sure.
“I think 2025 is our year. God willing, I get the job done against Hitchins.
“I think it’s going to happen very soon.”
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn also confirmed to Sporting News the fight was well and truly in his plans.
“That’s a fight that we looked at potentially for the end of this year,” Hearn said.
“Liam’s a formidable guy, I know he’s quiet but everybody in sport knows how good Liam Paro is.
“For me, if Liam gets through Richardson Hitchins, the Kambosos fight is a really big fight for Australian boxing and that’s what we want to do.”
Earlier this month, Sydney’s Kambosos confirmed he was keen to face Paro, who hails from Mackay.
“Hopefully Paro does a job on him and then who knows, we might be seeing State of Origin Game 4, NSW vs. Queensland, Kambosos-Paro,” Kambosos told Sporting News recently.
“We could run that back off the footy, it’d be huge,” Paro added.
“I’m a proud Queenslander, proud North Queenslander and I can’t wait to rep the maroon, defend the throne there too.”
The southpaw, though, remains cautious in not getting ahead of himself, knowing he has a slick, unbeaten opponent waiting for him in Puerto Rico.
Paro and Hitchins recently came together in a promotional “Face Off” in which the Aussie was accused of being a dirty fighter, while suggesting the New Yorker didn’t believe in himself.
When beating Matias earlier this year, many observers felt referee Luis Pabon was harsh in deducting a point from and continually warning Paro, while ignoring any infractions from his opponent.
Paro believes Hitchins’ comments show nerves and are an attempt at influencing the officials before the fight has even begun.
“He doesn’t like the heat. He doesn’t like a fight. He’s just trying to get it in everyone else’s head,” Paro said.
“He doesn’t like the pressure, he just wants to hold on and box and make it clean, pretty much like a sparring match, I can see it clear as day.
“Good luck if you think that’s how it’s going to pan out.
“Definitely, he’s trying to plant it in their heads, 100 per cent. He’s worried. I see nervousness, I just see a scared fighter.
“That night [against Matias], I had to fight two people - Matias and the referee.
“That’s in the past now and I believe we’re going to have the right officials, everything’s going to be fair and that’s what we want. We just want a 50:50, and the rest is up to me.”
Paro, who knocked out Brock Jarvis and Montana Love prior to his shot at Matias, is confident he can drag Hitchins into his fight.
“[Hitchins wants] a low punch volume, low-pace fight, just a cruisy boxing match, if you could,” he said.
“But everyone knows, that’s not me, I’ve got the heart of a warrior.
“I just love to fight, I’m going to take it to him, I’m going to show him that he’s in a fight with a battle-tested champion.
“It’s going to be a long 12 rounds for him. We’re just going to see what he’s made of.”
Having called forward his mandatory challenger in Hitchins, Paro hopes to turn his attention to the division’s other champions in 2025, as well as arguably the biggest name at 140-pounds.
“Anyone else with the other belts. I want to be the true champ, I want to unify this division, so any one of them can get it,” Paro said.
“There’s a guy I really want to fight, he called me out after I beat Montana Love and that’s Ryan Garcia.
“I believe his ban’s coming up soon, early next year, so if he can make 140 then I’d happily offer him a shot at my title, in Australia.”
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