Liam Paro is the new IBF welterweight champion — defeating Lewis Crocker via unanimous points decision in an all-out war.
Crocker walked forward in the first round, as is his trademark, even though his Aussie opponent was landing some solid blows.
’The Croc Hunter’ was left with a bleeding nose after the second round, but both fighters traded blows throughout and the fight continued that same way for 10 more rounds.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker plus ex-NRL beasts collide as Nelson Asofa-Solomona faces George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The English reigning champion did what he could to finish the bout late, realising he was behind when it came to the points tally.
“Crocker is going for it, and he needs to go for it,” Danny Green said.
In the final round, Paro took a barrage and returned serve with punches of his own, but a cut on his face poured out and all over Crocker’s back.
“Oh my goodness, his eye is an axe wound. He has been absolutely opened up with a minute left in this fight,” Ben Damon said.
But Paro finished the bout, and was confident he had done enough to have his hand raised, celebrating with his team.
“Paro, it could be an iconic moment as he is held aloft, blood absolutely everywhere after 12 rounds and some serious adversity,” Damon said.
After his win was confirmed, coming away victorious via unanimous decision, Paro made history.
The Aussie gun joined Jeff Fenech as the only Aussie boxers to claim titles in multiple divisions after Paro moved up in eight class.
In a touching moment post-fight, Crocker labelled Paro a “true champion” in a touching showing of respect.
Read below for all the latest updates from the Paro v Crocker card!
LIVE UPDATES (if the blog does not appear, tap here)
FULL CARD
MAIN CARD (via Kayo Sports and Main Event)
Liam Paro def. Lewis Crocker – IBF welterweight title
Nelson Asofa-Solomana def. George Burgess – Heavyweight
Demsey McKean def. Liam Talivaa – Heavyweight
Luke Modini def. Peng Qu – Cruiserweight
PRELIMS (via Kayo Sports and Fox Sports CH507)
Stevan Ivic def. Caleb Tialu – Heavyweight
Jack Javed def. Lance MacDonald – Super welterweight
Vegas Larfield def. Shamal Ram Anuj – Featherweight
Riley Candy def. Brayden Rawlins -Super middleweight
READ MORE
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know
FIGHTING WORDS: Gal’s $1m fight demand — and that’s a ‘discount’
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE: ‘Righto boys, we’re going to the pub’: The bareknuckle bloodlines behind Burgess fight
WEIGH-INS: Savage Crowe taunt as champ does runner; dual G-banger face-off stuns
Big NAS v Burgess: Final face-off | 01:04
BIG NASTY GETS IT DONE
Nelson Asofa-Solomona has confirmed himself Australia’s new crossover king – and potentially secured a $1 million showdown with Paul Gallen – after earning a third straight career win against George Burgess.
In a Brisbane slobberknocker that proved wonderfully entertaining, if not exactly technical, Asofa-Solomona had Burgess rocked, and against the ropes in the third when the hulking Englishman’s corner threw in the towel.
Immediately after the fight, both former NRL enforcers paid tribute to South Sydney’s Jai Arrow, who has only recently revealed his battle with motor neurone disease.
While being interviewed in the ring by Main Event’s Ben Damon, NAS removed his fight trunks and said he would be auctioning them online with all proceeds going to Arrow, with Burgess then suggesting he would do the same. “He’s fighting a bigger fight than us,” Burgess said, having lost his father Mark to the same disease. “And we’re all behind him.”
After having already defeated fellow leaguies Jeremy Latimore and Jarrod Wallace, Asofa-Solomona is now angling for a showdown against NSW Origin great Gallen.
Speaking with Fox Sports this week, No Limit boss George Rose confirmed discussions are already underway for the fight – with Gal requesting a $1 million purse for the showdown.
Gallen, of course, boasts a strong boxing resume that includes wins against Lucas Browne, Mark Hunt and Sonny Bill Williams, while almost going the distance in an Australian heavyweight title fight against Justis Huni.
Asofa-Solomona, meanwhile, has made short work of his rivals – with Burgess now the latest name to join his list of victims.
But geez, the son of streetfighter, and grandson of a bareknuckle streetfighter, and great grandson of a bareknuckle streetfighter had a crack.
Walking to the ring first, South Sydney’s premiership hero was accompanied by popular Aussie singer Conrad Sewell, who belted out Firestone all the way into the squared circle at Pat Rafter Arena.
Wearing a purple and gold sleeveless robe, with matching trunks, Burgess also carried the name ‘Butch’ on his gear in tribute to his streetfighting grandfather.
Big Nasty, meanwhile, was accompanied in his walkout by a lone guitarist pumping out Jon Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer.
As usual he was decked out in black trunks and sleeveless robe.
While Burgess came into this one with nobody knowing how well he could fight, it was his right hand that landed heavy early in a show of real promise.
And from there? Well, things got a little, err, chaotic. And immediately, as both men swung wildly, missed, grinned, swung some more, before Big Nasty landed, and again, this time with a big right that wobbled Burgess, who – somehow – recovered and saw out the round.
Wonderfully, Round 2 started where the first finished; with NAS this time landing better first, popping the jab, before Burgess returned fire, then appeared to trouble the betting favourite, before copping it again himself, then pushing NAS into the corner, while bleeding from over his left eye now, and then copping it again .. bang, bang … ding, ding.
While Nelson, undeniably through the opening six minutes, was getting the better of proceedings, Burgess was still enjoying moments – which every time drew cheers from the crowd. And at one point, a chant of “Georgie … Georgie … Georgie …”
Round three though was all NAS, who was landing early, including with a huge right which, somehow, Burgess ate, before ‘Big Nasty’ poured it on, almost pushing his rival out of the ring, and then landing again … which is when the towel was thrown.
FORMER BRONCOS’ STUNNING DISPLAY
He’s renowned for being one of Australia’s hardest-hitting boxers, but Luke Modini could have gone down a very different path.
The unbeaten 29-year-old continued his run with a win over Peng Qu on Wednesday, showcasing his brutal power with a overhand left saw his Chinese opponent slump to the canvas.
Late in the third, Qu couldn’t continue as the referee ended the bout.
“Modini has arrived with the bang that was expected,” Ben Damon said.
But it was at 20-years-old Modini decided to focus on boxing full time, leaving a potential rugby league career behind.
The rising star was playing for the Broncos’ under 20s side at the time and had trained alongside the likes of Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs and Pat Carrigan according to Code Sports.
“If you talk to anyone in boxing, they talk about how explosive Luke Modini is,” George Rose said prior to his bout.
“He is an absolute threat in the cruiserweight division, he will set crowds alight.”
Modini also revealed he is eyeing off a bout with fellow cruiserweight and superstar Jai Opetaia.
“The last few years I have been thinking about a fight with Jai Opetaia,” he said.
“One day we will cross path and make it a super fight for Australia.
“When that time comes, I will make sure I’m ready for him.”
TALIVAA’S UGLY BARRAGE
That was nasty.
Liam Talivaa was hammering Demsey McKean in their heavyweight bout, but he wouldn’t go down.
“Credit to McKean, he took some big shots… but then he showed his skill,” Danny Green said.
And show his skill he did, taking back the momentum when Talivaa tired before finishing the fight in the fourth via TKO with some damaging blows.
“A memorable, albeit brief, all-out war,” Ben Damon said.
“That was crazy.”
ROSE BACKS PARO GAMBLE
No Limit CEO George Rose has backed his decision to gamble more than $1 million on Liam Paro, joking the Queenslander will earn himself “a trillion dollar valuation” once he wins the IBF welterweight title.
Back in February, Fox Sports Australia revealed how the Australian promoters had landed the nation’s biggest ever purse bid to secure Paro a shock title challenge in his own backyard – with their $1.12 million offer beating Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom by just $27,000.
“But I believe in Liam Paro,” Rose said this week.
“And that’s why we’re putting it all on the line. Because remember, we’ve come from nothing too. We’re not rolling in money but we believe in Liam Paro.
“And we believe having the fight in his backyard makes a massive difference. [Laughs] Plus once Liam Paro wins the IBF crown, he’s got a trillion dollar valuation. Rolly Romero, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia … they’re life changing fights, life changing money and life changing opportunity. A win gets him the belt, and the belt opens every door in that division.”
Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) enters as the mandatory challenger to the unbeaten Northern Irishman Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs), who will make the first defence of the title he won earlier this year.
The Belfast fighter is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and arrives in Australia determined to spoil the hometown party.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for the Queenslander. Paro was originally scheduled to face fellow Irishman Paddy Donovan in a world-title eliminator on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu’s showdown with Michael Zerafa before Donovan was forced out through injury, opening the door to a title shot against Crocker.
The card also features several intriguing support bouts, including a heavyweight grudge match between former NRL enforcers Nelson Asofa-Solomona and George Burgess.
Heavy-hitting cruiserweight Luke Modini also returns to the ring for his biggest test yet, while Demsey McKean and Liam Talivaa square off in a fascinating heavyweight matchup.
CHAMP’S HEAVYWEIGHT STATEMENT
Stevan Ivic has delivered a statement display, downing Caleb Tialu in a heavyweight bout to open the main card.
Ivic, who is the current Australian heavyweight title-holder, beat his opponent down wih a wave of punches, before a number of body shots saw Tialu unable to continue.
The referee called for the stoppage to secure Ivic’s win, in what was a comprehensive display which marked his first stoppage win in more than three years.
“He’s taken a beating,” Danny Green said.
“When you’re on the side of the face, it’s a different pain… you see black.”
Now, according to The Courier Mail’s Pete Badel, Ivic is lining up a fight with ‘The Bull’.
“He’s a very good technician, he’s not the most powerful,” Pete Badel said.
“Next Brandon Grach I am hearing.”
WHAT TIME DOES IT START?
The prelims will start at 6:00 PM AEST.
The main card begins at 7:00 PM AEST.
