Paro Calls Out Lopez After Romero Win

IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro said Teofimo Lopez's August 22 majority decision over Rolando Romero strengthened his belief he can win a unification bout between the two titleholders.

Paro, who stopped Lewis Crocker in June to claim the 147-pound strap, told Ring Magazine he is targeting every welterweight champion available. "I was always confident I could beat him but that display put the cherry on top," he said of Lopez's performance against Romero.

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Paro Rejects Haney Rumors, Promoter Confirms Active Talks

The Australian dismissed social media chatter about fighting Devin Haney as clickbait, according to the report. "There were talks of Haney but it was just clickbait on social media," he said. "If Haney wants it, send us a contract and give us a number to work with. They all can have it, I want them all."

Lopez connected on just 23.4 percent of his punches against Romero and was wobbled by a counter right in the fifth round, though he swept the final five frames on two of three scorecards to secure the win. Paro's promoter George Rose confirmed conversations are underway with multiple champions but stopped short of announcing a finalized opponent.

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Haney withdrew from his October 3 defense against Keyshawn Davis following a purse bid last month. The WBO champion has since been linked to both Paro and WBA regular titleholder Jack Catterall. WBC champion Ryan Garcia faces Conor Benn on September 12 in another potential matchup Paro is monitoring.

Source: ringmagazine.com