Liam Paro could be one more win away from getting a shot at the title he lost against current IBF junior welterweight champion
Richardson Hitchins.
The IBF ordered a title eliminator between Paro and Lindolfo Delgado, it was announced on Tuesday, less than a week after Paro got back into the
win column with a fifth-round stoppage against Jonathan Navarro. The winner will emerge as Hitchins' mandatory challenger.
"I’ve proven this is my division, and I want to be world champion again. That’s the goal," said Paro. "I believe I’m at the top level, and I want to keep proving myself back there. The bigger the names, the better. Whatever’s going to elevate my career, that’s what I’m here for. I’ve got the best team in the world, and I’ll keep fighting whoever they put in front of me.”
In a parallel move, Paro promoter No Limit Boxing announced the Australian native signed a multi-year deal with the company. George Rose, CEO of No Limit Boxing, envisions building Paro as a pay-per-view attraction in the land down under.
"This multi-year deal is about turning Liam into the global star we know he is, right here in his own backyard," said Rose. "He’s an elite talent, action-packed, entertaining, and ready to fight the very best. The Australian public is going to love him."
Paro (26-1, 16 KOs)
lost a split decision to Hitchins in December, failing to defend the title after scoring one of the year's biggest upsets in June 2024, a unanimous decision win over Subriel Matias.
Delgado (23-0, 16 KOs), a 2016 Mexican Olympian trained by Robert Garcia, is coming off a
career-best majority decision win against Elvis Rodriguez in April.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring's lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.