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Aussie on the rise: Junior welterweight Liam Paro

Sub Lead13-Mar-18by John J. Raspanti

By Anthony Cocks

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When junior welterweight prospect Liam Paro steps into the ring this weekend there will be more than just pressure on him to win when he faces veteran campaigner Andrew Wallace for the vacant Australian 140-pound crown.

“Liam has all the skills to do what I did and go all the way to a world title,” WBO welterweight champion Jeff “The Hornet” Horn told his Facebook followers on Sunday. “I can see this firsthand with Liam being my main sparring partner in my early preparation for my world title defense against Terrence Crawford in Las Vegas on April 14.

“If you love boxing and exciting fighters, follow the rise of Liam Paro. I am hoping Liam can rejoin my preparations after his title fight.”

The 21-year-old southpaw they call “The Prodigy” laughs off the compliments and takes it all in his stride.

“Yeah, there is a bit of publicity around at the moment thanks to Jeff Horn,” laughed Paro, 12-0 (8). “It’s been really good. I always stay humble because I know it can all be taken away faster than it was granted. So I’m always level-headed, it all makes me push harder and want to make it more.”

The Australian boxing landscape changed literally overnight on 2 July 2017. In no place was that change felt more acutely than in Queensland where the fiercely parochial state had a brand new hero and a blossoming love affair with the sweet science.

“I think what Horn achieved put boxing back on the map in Australia,” said Alfie Di Carlo, trainer of Paro. “What I have noticed since then is mass media interest. [News Corp journalist] Grantlee Kieza is a blessing to the sport of boxing and we have been lucky enough to ride the coattails of that with Liam being a big part of Horn’s last two camps.”

Brisbane lawyer Di Carlo knows a thing or two about boxing. His brother Nathan Di Carlo was a top class amateur boxer, winning the national bantamweight title six times and representing his country at international tournaments including the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. His father Angelo Di Carlo is Queensland’s leading promoter with over 150 shows under his belt since starting Ace Boxing Promotions in 2004. To say Alfie has boxing in his blood is an understatement.

It comes as no surprise then that Alfie has a good eye when it comes to spotting talent. He recognised Paro’s potential early on when he was still a young teenager fighting in the amateurs.

“As a fighter, definitely the skills he possesses as a boxer,” said Di Carlo of his young charge’s best qualities. “Great angles and variety of punches. In training his willingness to continue to learn is his best attribute.”

Since making the move to Brisbane eighteen months ago Paro says his improvement has been exponential.

“I was truly blessed the day Alfie said he would take me on fulltime and it has done absolute wonders for not only my boxing but my day-to-day life,” said Paro. “I owe just about everything to him. And I can’t wait to reach the top with Alfie and Team Paro. I believe we have the best team in the country.”

Paro pic courtesy of boxrec.com

Born in the North Queensland cane-cutting town of Mackay, Paro started out boxing at the Pioneer Valley Boxing Club run by Greven Breadsell after seeing his friend and neighbor Tysinn Best putting on his hand wraps in the street. At first it was just for fitness training in the footy off-season, but as his talent and passion grew, it became his sport of choice.

At the age of 16 he moved 400km north to tropical Townsville after former world title challenger and current cruiserweight contender Mark “Bam Bam” Flanagan scouted him out at amateur tournaments. There wasn’t a lot of opportunities for boxers in Mackay at the time and Townsville, with its strong boxing history, offered more opportunities for the young auto electrician to further his career. It allowed Paro to win the national youth title as a junior welterweight in 2013, led to him representing Australian at the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships in Bulgaria and helped him advance his amateur record to 56-8. Paro turned pro in March 2016 and made the move south to the Queensland capital of Brisbane a few months later as a 20-year-old.

Last November Paro returned to Townsville for the first time as a pro where he appeared on the same card as Flanagan.

“I absolutely loved being able to fight up home in North Queensland,” said Paro. “It was an unreal turnout. Thanks to Angelo Di Carlo of Ace Boxing Promotions for making the show possible and I hope it happens again this year.”

One of the key benefits of moving to Brisbane have been the opportunities that it has led to.

A little less than a year ago the largely unknown Paro was drafted into Jeff Horn’s training camp as he prepared for his much-ballyhooed fight against eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. On paper, “The Prodigy” had a simple remit: replicate the Filipino superstar’s fast and dynamic southpaw attack.

So impressed were Team Horn with Paro’s ability that he quickly became their lead sparring partner for the Pacquiao camp and was an obvious choice once again as they prepare to climb another mountain in the form The Ring magazine’s number two pound-for-pound boxer Terrence Crawford in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 14.

The experience has lifted Paro to another level.

“It’s unbelievable and I’m truly humbled to be able to help a world champion in his biggest fights by being his main sparring partner,” said Paro. “I’ve gained so much confidence from getting in and trading them with the guy who beat Manny.”

Di Carlo agrees.

“His confidence at that world level [is where he has improved],” said Di Carlo. “I believe he can go all the way to a world title.”

But first things first. This weekend Paro will get the opportunity to show off his full kit of punches when he takes on durable Melbourne-based Englishman Wallace 11-10-1 (7) for the vacant Australian junior welterweight title at the Mansfield Tavern in the Brisbane suburb of Mansfield. It will be Paro’s first 10 round bout and first title fight.

“Wallace deserves every bit of respect,” said Paro. “He’s been in there a lot more times than me and he’s had the longer fight experience, but I truly believe we have everything covered, we put the work in all areas. So it should shape up to be a good fight.”

Paro, who has never been extended past the fifth round, says he has followed the exact same preparation for this fight as he has for his previous bouts.

“This is a good hard test in front of me,” said Paro. “But that’s what boxing is about, forever testing yourself. Nothing has changed in camp, we always train 110%.”

With Horn’s backing, the spotlight will be firmly on Paro this Saturday night.

No pressure.