Liam Paro targets IBF welterweight title against Lewis Crocker

Liam Paro stepped into the ring Wednesday night at Pat Rafter Arena with a chance to capture the IBF welterweight title and become a two-time world champion.

Paro, who previously held the IBF lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super lightweight strap before losing it to Richardson Hitchins last year, faced reigning welterweight titlist Lewis Crocker in the Brisbane main event. ESPN carried the bout, which marked the Australian's return to championship-level competition after nine months out of the spotlight.

Paro's path back to world title contention

The 29-year-old from Mackay vacated his lightweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super lightweight belt after cutting weight became untenable. Moving up to 147 pounds gave him a fresh start, but it also put him opposite an unbeaten champion in Crocker, who brought power and youth to the matchup.

A win would make Paro just the fourth Australian to hold world titles in two weight classes, joining an exclusive group in local boxing history. The stakes extended beyond hardware — speculation has already circulated about a potential crossover bout with former NRL enforcer Paul Gallen, who fights under the Big Nasty moniker and has been angling for marquee opponents since his own combat sports pivot.

Crocker entered as the favourite but faced a hostile crowd and a motivated challenger hunting redemption. The weigh-in Wednesday morning showed both men on point, with Paro reportedly comfortable at the higher limit and Crocker coming in conditioned after a full camp in Belfast.

Reported via:

• ESPN Boxing — Follow live: Liam Paro chasing Aussie boxing history; 'Big Nasty' win could set up Paul Gallen showdown