Australia’s Liam Paro has declared himself ready to “make more history” in a blockbuster unification bout against American superstar Devin Haney – and only a week after Tim Tszyu looks to do the same.
Three months after Fox Sports Australia revealed the two camps were in talks, Paro and Haney have finally been confirmed for a massive San Francisco showdown on Sunday, December 20.
The Chase Center headliner will see the popular Queenslander put his IBF welterweight strap on the line against Haney, the reigning WBO champ.
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Incredibly, Paro’s headliner takes place only a week after both Tim Tszyu and Liam Wilson fight for world titles on the Gold Coast, while Australia’s cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia is also moving up in weight to face Deontay Wilder that same weekend.
And a week before all that, Nikita Tszyu also makes his hyped US debut.
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Speaking shortly after the announcement was made, Paro declared himself ready for the greatest challenge of his career.
“Three years ago, I was on the undercard at Chase Center the night Devin fought Regis Prograis,” he recounted. “I said back then that Haney versus Paro rolls off the tongue – now it’s here.
“Champion versus champion, two belts on the line, in his backyard.
“I’ve never taken the easy road.
“I went to Puerto Rico and took the title off Matias in front of his own people.
“Devin’s a great fighter and I respect that. But I’ve been the underdog plenty of times and I’ve made history before. I’m coming to unify the division and make more history.”
Haney, meanwhile, also promised to bring new energy to an old storyline, reminding: “My resume speaks for itself.
“I’ve never been afraid to go into a champion’s backyard and put my record on the line.
“I went to Australia, took George Kambosos’ belts, and became the undisputed lightweight champion of the world.
“Now I’m bringing another Australian world champion, Liam Paro, into my backyard.
“This time, I plan to take his belt and become a unified welterweight world champion right here at home.
“Oakland is where my story started, and the Bay Area has always been part of who I am.
“The Valkyries just brought a championship to Chase Center and now I plan to keep that championship energy going.”
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No Limit boss George Rose also said his charge was ready for the challenge.
“Look, this is the fight we’ve been chasing since the day Liam won that IBF belt,” the promoter said. “Plenty of champions sit on their titles and wait for an easy defence.
“That’s never been Liam Paro and it’s never been No Limit.
“We put his name in front of every champion in the division and said ‘come and get it’.
“Devin Haney has answered, and full credit to him for that.
“I’ll say it straight: Devin Haney is the best welterweight in the world right now.
“Undefeated, three-division world champion … that’s exactly why Liam wants him.
“You don’t become the best by going around the best.
“You go straight through them, and that’s what we’re heading to America to do.”
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Paro sits among a shortlist of Australians to have won world titles in multiple divisions, joining the likes of Jeff Fenech, Danny Green and Anthony Mundine.
And only a week before the Queenslander’s headliner, No Limit stablemate Tszyu will also be looking to ink his own name into that same group, with ‘The Phoenix’ headlining a Gold Coast stadium show against WBA middleweight champ Erislandy Lara.
As part of a huge fortnight for Australian fight fans, Wilson will also challenge for the WBA super featherweight title on Tszyu’s undercard, while Brock Jarvis looks to cause a boilover against Jermell Charlo.
On the same weekend, Opetaia will also be moving up a division to challenge Wilder, with that fight taking place on the undercard of Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury.
Meanwhile, Bill Haney, who trains his superstar son, added of the Paro showdown: “Devin and Liam are two reigning world champions competing in one of the hottest divisions in boxing.
“We made championship history at Chase Center at 140 pounds and now we’re returning at 147 for another opportunity to make history, looking to build on that success and deliver a memorable night of world-class boxing for the Bay Area.”
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