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.”
Paro makes a fast start
Crocker had new head coach Huzaifah Iqbal in his corner for the first time, but there were no major changes in approach although he did deviate from the back-foot tactic he employed in his title win over Paddy Donovan.
Paro made his customary fast start, throwing out his southpaw jab, a bundle of energy and feints to set up his left, finding a home downstairs on several occasions as he settled in well.
The defending champion’s approach was reminiscent of his first fight with Donovan, standing in the pocket as he sought to make it a gruelling battle on the inside, and while he had his moments, Paro remained busy and was able to vary his attack, spinning to create the angles.
Crocker’s pace increased in the third, putting his punches together a little more as Paro was warned for a second time for use of the head, yet the Australian seemed happy to match fire with fire.
Paro’s work-rate was higher as he varied his attacks and a solid left snapped Crocker’s head back in the fifth. The Belfast man did not appeared stung, but it was further evidence the speed and variety was giving Crocker problems, yet the Belfast man found two solid rights at the end of the round which Paro certainly felt.
The momentum seemed to carry into the early part of the sixth with Crocker beginning to impose himself much more, finding a home for the overhand left towards the end of the round.
Crocker mounts a charge in the second half
It left this fight finely poised heading into the second half with Paro having a better seventh, but noticeably less eager to stand in front of Crocker who was beginning to walk the challenger down.
The big left hook that Crocker had been seeking landed flush in the eighth and left some swelling over Paro’s left eye that was badly damaged in his last outing against David Papot.
The Australian’s corner were calling for “feints” and “defence”, perhaps aware the heavy hands of Crocker were beginning to cause problems and he landed some thudding hooks after Paro had made a quick start to the ninth.
Paro’s skills were telling in the 10th and perhaps the winning of the fight as he regained some control, but Crocker lifted it again in the 11th, landing with an uppercut on the inside that hurt the Australian who was on the back foot and clearly in trouble with the champion sensing he had made a major breakthrough.
Crocker perhaps knew he had to go for it and continued to rock Paro who was seeking to tie up as another monster left spit his left eye.
The Australian was hanging on desperately but survived to hear the final bell with his fast start ultimately paying off against Crocker’s strong finish.
Paro seeks the big names as Crocker must rebuild
Liam Paro insists his win on home soil should be the beginning of a wave of big Australian fight nights.
Now a two-division champion, the 30-year-old has proven he is a force on the world stage once again and is now eyeing a unification against one of the division’s other champions: Devin Haney [WBO], Ryan Garcia [WBC] or Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero [WBA].
Ireland’s Paddy Donovan is now his mandatory challenger, but considering his title win was a mandatory defence for Crocker, Paro may have the luxury of a voluntary defence of unification before facing the Limerick man who pulled out of a final eliminator between the pair in January due to injury.
As for Crocker, it’s back to the drawing board, but perhaps his stock may have increased a little in defeat, losing by the narrowest of margins a long way from home.
However, there is always the danger he slips into the ‘who needs ’em club’ as his power makes him a dangerous prospect, but may now need to gamble to get back on track.
Perhaps a rematch with Conah Walker – whom he beat in a thrilling battle two years ago – may be a natural step as there were rumours of a voluntary defence against the Wolverhampton man before the IBF mandated he face Paro.
At 29, he has plenty ahead of him, so his next move will be crucial.
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