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Rising Aussie boxing star Liam Paro has revealed how the tragic death of his best mate has inspired him in the wake of the biggest win of his career.
The undefeated Australian grabbed the attention of the boxing world – with a stunning first-round knockout of Brock Jarvis in Brisbane recently, and he gave an insight to Daily Mail Australia on just how remarkable the journey to that win has been.
The skillful southpaw from Queensland only needed 149 seconds to make his savage statement with a left hook that sent the Jeff Fenech-trained opponent crashing to the canvas.
Undefeated Australian pugilist Liam Paro (pictured) grabbed the biggest win of his career – and the attention of the boxing world – with a stunning first-round knockout of Brock Jarvis in Brisbane recently
The skillful southpaw from Queensland (pictured left) only needed 149 seconds to make his savage statement with a left hook that sent the Jeff Fenech-trained opponent crashing to the canvas
The 26-year-old is currently ranked No. 2 with the WBO – behind hard-hitting American Teofimo Lopez – and his statement win over Jarvis will cement his claim for a shot at the title and fulfill a promise to a boyhood friend who tragically passed away.
‘I always said I was the best fighter in the country and if that’s not a statement, I don’t know what you guys want,’ he said after the fight.
‘I hope Brock is OK, you don’t want to see fighters go down like that.’
The former laborer was still buzzing a week later and described the event as the ‘perfect outcome’.
Paro is currently ranked No. 2 with the WBO – behind hard-hitting American Teofimo Lopez – and his statement win over Jarvis (pictured) will cement his claim for a shot at the title
‘I couldn’t write the script any better. To put an end to it in the first round was a dream come true,’ Paro told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I’m always ready for war. The opening was there, so I took it with both hands. I made sure he wasn’t getting back up too.’
Paro has no doubts that he’s ready to take on the world’s best – and has the words ‘Conquer the World’ tattooed on his body to remind him of his mission.
It was a mantra he shared with his boyhood mate Regan Grieve, who was an outstanding rugby league player who captained the Queensland under-18 team and was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.
Paro’s boyhood friend Regan Grieve – who was an outstanding rugby league player – took his own life in 2015. His death left Paro devastated – and the boxer says he is now fighting to ‘conquer the world’ in his mate’s memory
Grieve took his own life in 2015 aged just 18, leaving Paro absolutely devastated.
‘People talk about their why. That is my why,’ Paro explained.
‘I made a promise to him. I got the tattoo ‘Conquer the World’ – he was gonna conquer NRL and me boxing. Now I’m doing it for both of us.
‘So, when I’m sore and don’t want to get out of bed – I think I’ve got to get up and get this done for both of us. I’m a man of my word and I promised him I’d be world champion – so I’m going to get it done.’
Regan Grieve (right) is pictured with NRL legend Sam Thaiday. Paro says he made a promise to his friend that he intends to keep
Paro was also a young footballing talent, but fell in love with boxing at age 13 after spotting a neighbour heading to the gym.
He had a quick rise in the sport and soon found himself as the sparring partner for former world champion Jeff Horn in his fight against Manny Pacquiao, and then again for his bout with Terence Crawford.
Horn was quick to sing the praises of the young southpaw at the time, saying he could one day win a world title.
Liam Paro with his glamorous partner Laura after a win earlier this year
‘Iron sharpens iron, as they say,’ says Paro. ‘And also training with Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson was massive for my confidence.
‘For me to get in there and give them competitive rounds was great. These guys are the best of the best. I belong there. I’ve got to keep proving it under the bright lights. I belong at the top and I’m going to be there for a while.’
Major promotor Eddie Hearn is another believer in the Aussie, who says Paro’s recent KO of Jarvis was a statement to the world
Paro (right) is pictured with undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney. The Aussie believes sparring with champions like Haney has given him confidence
‘That was a really, really world-class performance, a stunning knockout that will be played again and again around the world over the next few days,’ said Hearn.
‘He’s ready to fight for the world championship.
‘Josh Taylor will fight Jack Catterall, and it looks like he (Paro) should be mandatory for the winner.
‘If they want to vacate, it’s Liam Paro against Teofimo Lopez and I’ll do everything I can to bring that to Australia,’ Hearn said.
Liam Paro (right) is pictured with former featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson
Paro says he doesn’t care which one he has to fight for the world title, just as long as it happens soon.
‘It doesn’t matter who I face for the world title next year – I’ve proved how good I am. I’d like to fight them all and knock them off one by one.’
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