Australia’s Liam Paro is the new IBF welterweight champion with a points win over Belfast’s Lewis Crocker at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia.
Paro, who previously held the IBF’s light-welterweight title, becomes the first Australia-born boxer since Jeff Fenech to become a multi-weight world champion, earning a 115-113 nod on all three cards after a gruelling battle.
The 30-year-old produced a display of skill and heart to dethrone Crocker who was making the first defence of the title he won in Belfast last September, improving his record to 28 wins with one defeat.
Crocker, 29, appeared on the brink of a stoppage late in the fight but just couldn’t find the finishing shot with Paro reeling, suffering a first career reverse in his 23rd contest and will now seek to rebuild.
Paro won his first world title when passing the considerable challenge posed by the big-punching Subriel Matias in June 2024 before losing it in his next fight against Richardson Hitchens.
After moving up to welterweight last year, his dream to become a two-weight champion has been realised, but was pushed to the brink by the Northern Irishman.
“This means everything,” Paro told broadcaster Main Event
“I climbed the mountain before [at light-welterweight] but it’s been a long, hard road. I got knocked off and here I am again.
“I had to dig in. Lewis Crocker is a great champion and held himself like a true champion.
“I had so many people telling me I couldn’t, what now? I want all the big fights now Down Under. I want it all. This life is about testing yourself so bring it on.”
There were no complaints from the outgoing champion who grew into the contest after a slow start and while so close to pulling it out of the fire late on, Paro managed to survive the onslaught
“It was a great fight, respect to Liam,” he said.
“It was a very close fight. I think a bit more could have been done about the holding but congratulations to Liam, he’s a fantastic fighter.”
