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Overlooked? Rugged Liam Paro says he’s ready to fight Subriel Matias

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For eight years, Liam Paro’s life was consumed not by boxing, but by rugby league. Yes, the same rugby league that can often be confused with watching a car crash.

Over and over again.

“Listen, I think there are a lot fewer injuries in boxing,” said Paro, laughing, who as a teenager traded away her cleats (you see, there’s no hanging equipment) for boxing gloves. “[Rugby league] it’s a hard sport, but it shows that we were brought up there in hard conditions. There are no helmets or padding and it is electrifying to watch.”

That’s true, but considering Paro, from Queensland, is 24-0 and 15 KOs as a professional boxer and will soon fight for a world title for the first time this Saturday against IBF junior welterweight champion Subriel Matias, it’s unthreatening to say that the 28-year-old made the right decision.

“This is what you dream about as a child,” Paro said. “Title intentions, winning titles and fighting massive names. So I have to do it and I’m excited. I love massive tests. I’ve already completed each of the 24 tests and it’s time for the massive one. I am ready.”

It’s challenging to disagree with Paro’s achievements and the fact that he deserves a chance to fight the Puerto Rican. However, despite winning his last four fights (including an impressive sixth-round knockout of Montana Love last December) over opponents with a combined record of 70-2-2, he heads into “La Isla del Encanto” as a significant underdog.

“I feel like I’m being overlooked a little bit,” Paro said. “I believe everyone has my whole career, and only Australians in general. But look, it’s up to him how he sees me. We never miss any opponent. We approach each opponent the same, we train 110 percent for each one, because you have seen fights where people do not pay attention to others, and the boxing gods have their own way of working. I hope we can get Matias 100 percent. I know I’m giving 100 percent in this fight and I’m more than ready for the task ahead of us.”

Paro makes a valid point when it comes to the fighting community and bookmakers often rejecting Australian fighters despite the success Tim Tszyu, the Moloney brothers and others have had over the last few years. And although Paro has completed the final five weeks of his camp in Florida, he believes it is possible to break into the elite level and stay there while training Down Under.

“Definitely, but I need the belts to have that kind of pulling power,” he said. “I can bring the massive fights back to Australia, back to Queensland and obviously that’s what I want to do. But you have to spread your wings a little to open the doors and create these opportunities for yourself.

Entering a champion’s backyard and taking his title by force is a good way to break down some doors, and defeating Matias would send shockwaves through the boxing community. However, Paro can expect to fight Matias, the crowd and possibly the judges when he steps into the ring at Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati. So is he ready to be the bad guy?

“I wouldn’t say he’s a bad guy,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not really a bad guy.”

Rightly. What about the guy in the black hat?

“I do not mind. I just love proving people wrong and I feel like I’ll do that in this fight. I always remain humble. I’ve been like this my whole career and I have no intention of changing it.”

But being humble doesn’t hurt Paro’s confidence, and he hopes to leave Puerto Rico with an extra carry-on bag. But can he do it? Matias is a rising star and there’s a reason why he’s a favorite. On the other hand, he is fighting at home, all eyes are on him, and he has already been caught napping by the man who handed him the only defeat of his professional career in 2020, Petros Ananyan. Matias took revenge for that knockout defeat two years later, but a precedent was set that Paro isn’t counting on but wouldn’t mind repeating.

“I believe the pressure is on him because it’s his fight to get home,” Paro said of Matias. “He will want to perform for his people. We have no pressure. I don’t think any Australian has ever traveled to Puerto Rico itself to win a title from a champion; it will go down in history and will be massive. And not only for me, but for my family, my loved ones, and it is a step in the right direction, towards a better future for everyone. It’s electrifying. But most of all, I know what task awaits me – I just want to get there and shock the world.”

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Ryan Garcia: ‘I would give Terence Crawford his biggest payday’

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Image: Ryan Garcia: "I would Give Terence Crawford His Biggest Payday"

Ryan Garcia says he would give Terence Crawford the “biggest payday of his life” if he agreed to fight him. The recently 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) probably won’t take him up on his offer because he’s obsessed with getting a mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez before he retires, and that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

(Source: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

If Ryan was stern about wanting to fight Crawford, he would be crazy to turn down the fight. He won’t get a fight with Canelo in a million years and there is no one at 147, 154, 160 or 168 that can command a payday like Ryan.

Garcia (24-1, 20 KO) may have been pulling Crawford’s chin, telling fans he would like to fight him because he is currently unable to fight anyone. Today on social media, Ryan mentioned that he wants to play some exhibition matches in Japan, but that would probably not involve Crawford.

Ryan, 26, says he finds Crawford dull, and that’s true. Crawford is dull to watch because he’s a boxer. The guys he knocked out were either aged, damaged by car accidents, or weren’t that good to begin with.

“As for Bud Crawford, I already called him out. I think he’s just trying to fight Canelo Alvarez. That’s why I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Ryan Garcia continued social mediatalking about wanting to fight Terence Crawford.

“I would like to fight Bud Crawford. I don’t think he’s as good as people say. I say it publicly and I say it live now. If Bud is listening to me, I would love to fight you. I feel like I would literally blow you away.

Crawford would have to be extremely spoiled to turn down such an offer to fight Ryan because he won’t get anything better.

“You’re a good fighter, but I don’t think you’ve ever beaten anyone with your talent, explosiveness, and strength. I think you could have beaten Shawn Porter. He is a great fighter, but quite basic. Errol Spence Jr. had an accident. I don’t think he’s that good,” Garcia said.

“Have you fought someone who knocked you out in one punch? NO. So I think Bud Crawford is overrated. You can have your own opinion on this matter. That’s how I feel. I’m a boxer. I don’t care. I will fight him and I will defeat him [stuffing] out of him. I feel like this is it. Empty word and period,” Garcia said.

The left hook that Ryan Garcia throws would certainly knock out Crawford if it landed on the button. Crawford was badly hurt by former featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa many years ago, and if he was injured then, Ryan could hurt him just as much now. Crawford took a lot of demanding shots from Israil Madrimov in the August 3 fight, which couldn’t have been good for him.

“I would actually fight him. There is a difference. I would actually fight him. You could actually see Ryan Garcia in the ring with Bud Crawford. I can’t speak for the other players. I don’t know if Tank would fight Bud Crawford, but I know he would. I would fight Bud Crawford with pride, I’ll go in there and give it my all,” Garcia said.

A fight between Ryan and Crawford would have a lot of benefits, but only for Kingry’s sake. Crawford will come to the fight. It may not matter whether Turki Alalshikh is paying Crawford, but the PPV numbers wouldn’t be on par with the Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis fight.

“If he doesn’t want it, it’s not my fault. If he doesn’t think it fits, it’s not my fault. He is not a draw. He brings nothing to the table. He’s dull as hell, but I’d probably give him the biggest payday of his life if he took the fight,” Ryan said.

If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is interested in paying Crawford tons of money to fight an unpopular 154-pounder, he will likely do so. He won’t agree to fight anyone not named Canelo unless Turki pays him handsomely.

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Devin Haney’s Lawsuit Against Ryan Garcia ‘Deadly Full of Holes’

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Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney

Devin Haney’s plan to sue Ryan Garcia for millions of dollars has a fatal flaw as the boxer’s reputation takes another beating on social media.

“The Dream” initiated legal action against Garcia, even though his only loss was ruled a no-contest. The WBC super lightweight champion wants monetary compensation for being beaten by the Golden Boy star.

Haney’s father, Bill, told the world that “Suits are part of business. Welcome to boxing and the Devin Haney era. Many fans responded that the action was extreme, even though Garcia failed drug tests.

Many believe that a year’s punishment and stripping of the victory is enough, but the Haneys do not. However, there is a consensus that the pursuit of extra cash is “deadly flawed.”

The main weakness of this case is the fact that Bill told Garcia that they were coming to “kill” him, which is a clear sign that “Kingry” may start his own legal process.

In response to the video reminding Bill of his words, Garcia replied, “I have no choice but to sue him.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who once represented Haney until the falling out, says Garcia’s actions could have huge consequences.

“This could be a really pivotal moment for boxing because in the past people have asked when a fighter fails a drug test and there’s a fight, ‘Should there be legal or police action against this fighter?’

“If Haney wins this case, I think it will really start to discourage players from using PEDs. When Ryan Garcia gets a one-year ban, it’s not a problem. A few months break and you’re back in camp. But if you lose tens of millions of dollars, it takes on a different meaning,” Hearn told Charlie Parsons.

In reference to Haney’s attempt to profit from the loss, Garcia responded to Hearn’s comments by saying, “Any expert understands that I have never knowingly taken PEDs. It seems you and the Haneys have underestimated me so much that you can’t recover from a fight, and neither can the Haneys. And now, looking at what happened, it seems like both of you can’t win [after Anthony Joshua lost].

Garcia added: “If Devin needs money that badly, I have a sponsor for him. This is a fresh type of tampon created especially for men.”

The fan also reminded the Haneys of their promise to murder in the lead-up. He asked, “Didn’t Bill Haney say they were sending Devin Haney to kill Ryan Garcia? Did he really want Ryan to die in the ring? Now Haney’s team says they could have died. Wanting to file a lawsuit is absolute bullshit.

Part of the lawsuit says Haney accuses Garcia of battery. However, the fact that Bill could stop the “battery at any time” could have backfired on him.

Garcia concluded: “I asked you, Bill, to stop the fight, but you allowed the battery to continue. You wanted this beating to match,” said the suspended super lightweight.

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Vuong benefits significantly from the weakening of Edwards-Yafai

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ONE of the biggest British fights of the year is a stern step up for a potential lightweight contender on the card.

Cameron Vuong (6-0 (3 KO)) will fight former British and European lightweight champion Gavin Gwynne over 10 rounds on November 30 as part of the Clear Edwards-Galal Yafai main event at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham.

Vuong, trained by Jamie Moore, entered action on September 18, defeating Joe Underwood Hughes. However, the 22-year-old asked to be moved to tougher fights and is now getting his wish against Welshman Gwynne.

Just 10 months ago, Gwynne won the EBU belt by defeating veteran Emiliano Marsili, who retired in the eighth round with a shoulder injury. Gwynne vacated the belt and moved on to fight in Riyad, Saudi Arabia against the highly touted Mark Chamberlain. The less experienced Chamberlain proved too powerful for Gwynne and stopped his fighter in the fourth round. Vuong vs. Gwynne could be intelligent matchmaking or a step too early for Vuong.

Walker looks set to get back to winning ways against Lewis Ritson (Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Elsewhere on the November 30 event, Conah Walker will face welterweight Lewis Ritson over 10 rounds. Walker felt tired after a points defeat to Lewis Crocker in June and will look to regain the momentum he gained after back-to-back wins over Cyrus Pattinson and Lloyd Germain.

For Ritson, once nicknamed “Geordie Golovkin,” winning is crucial. Although Ritson was only 31, he had lost his last two fights to Ohara Davies and Paddy Donovan, and a fifth career defeat could spell the end of the road for the former British lightweight champion.

Super flyweight prospect Hamza Uddin makes his third appearance in the professional rankings against former Midlands Area flyweight champion Benn Norman. Coventry’s Aaron Bowen will be looking to move to 4-0 against his yet-to-be-announced opponent.

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