Undefeated Australian super lightweight Liam Paro recently stormed into world title contention by recording the greatest win of his career – but just 5 months ago he thought his boxing career might be over.
Paro, 27, dropped outspoken rival Montana Love twice on his way to a stunning sixth-round stoppage in San Francisco earlier this month to again press his world boxing title credentials.
The Queensland southpaw improved his professional record to 24-0 and is now eyeing a showdown with Ryan Garcia or Devin Haney.
However, sidelined for 14 months following shocking injuries, ‘The Prodigy’ thought his boxing dream was over and he might have to get a job in the mines to pay the bills.
‘Victory meant the world to me after the year I’ve had,’ Paro told Daily Mail Australia.
Liam Paro produced one of the best performances of his career, flooring brash American Montana Love in San Francisco
Paro thought his boxing career might be over after being sidelined by injures, but one particular sponsor stuck by the Queenslander
‘A lot of people that I thought were with me abandoned me this year. I got left behind. There was one major sponsor, Greg Taylor from Step One, who stuck by me. Without him I don’t know what would have happened.’
‘When I got injured it felt like everything had been taken away from me, so I had thought of finding a mining job up here in Mackay.
‘I cant thank Greg enough for helping me. I was very lucky to have him.’
The Aussie outsider’s statement win over Love cemented his claim for a shot at the title and fulfilled a promise to a boyhood friend who tragically passed away.
Paro says he’s ready to take on the world’s best – and has the words ‘Conquer the World’ tattooed on his body to remind him of his mission.
It was a mantra he shared with his boyhood mate Regan Grieve, who was an outstanding rugby league player who captained the Queensland under-18 team and was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.
Grieve took his own life in 2015 aged just 18, leaving Paro absolutely devastated.
‘I think about him every single day,’ admitted Paro.
The Queensland southpaw is motivated to succeed by a good friend who passed away at 18
Paro wears the initials ‘R.G’ on his trunks in memory of Regan Grieve
Paro’s boyhood friend Regan Grieve – who was an outstanding rugby league player – took his own life in 2015. His death left Paro devastated – and the boxer says he is now fighting to ‘conquer the world’ in his mate’s memory
‘That’s my motivation. If you saw the photos of my trunks I had his initials ‘RG’ there. I’ll wear that on my trunks until the day I retire.
‘It’s one step closer to a promise I made to him, because I’m a man of my word, and at the end of the day that’s all we have, our word.
‘And we are still on the journey to conquer the world and become a world champion.’
Paro’s big victory has well and truly put him in the mix for the biggest fights at his weight class, and one such big fight would come by way of American star Ryan Garcia, the No. 4-ranked lightweight in the world.
Paro is now eyeing a blockbuster showdown with Devin Haney (pictured) or Ryan Garcia
Garcia posted on Twitter: ‘Good stuff Paro I was watching, taking a fight to Australia would be cool. Sorry if I got your last name wrong. #letsgo’.
Paro responded: ‘Anytime’.
The Aussie says he will be heading back to Vegas in January to try and solidify a showdown with Garcia.
‘I’m hoping to seal that fight with Ryan Garcia – that’s the next step,’ Paro said.
‘He said he’d come to Australia. I want to bring the big fights to Australia. I’m blessed to be Aussie and I fly the flag.’
‘It’s good to be back in contention.’
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