‘Anyone with a belt, I want them’: Aussie sets sights on US superstar after brutal war

Liam Paro has revealed how a string of Las Vegas sparring sessions against Rolly Romero now have him confident of upsetting the American superstar, declaring: “I’m getting the job done in what would be one hell of a fight”.

It comes as No Limit CEO George Rose has also confirmed his interest in bringing Romero, who holds the WBA welterweight title, to Australia in early 2026 for a blockbuster championship showdown.

Paro vs Papot | THURSDAY 18 SEPT 7PM AEST | Liam Paro’s quest to recapture gold continues, as he moves up in weight to take on undefeated Frenchman David Papot, with the winner set up to compete for the IBF Welterweight Title. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

“I’d love to have Liam Paro fighting for a world title in Australia,” said Rose, who revealed he was already in preliminary discussions with both Romero and WBC champion Mario Barrios.

“And I think Rolly would love it here in beautiful, sunny Queensland.

“Think he would have a great time out here.

“He’d go home without a belt, but I think he’d enjoy his time here.”

Already being hailed Australia’s next pay-per-view star, Paro produced one of his gutsiest performances of his career to win Thursday night’s IBF world title eliminator against Frenchman David Papot – and with a right eye that was effectively swollen shut.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia afterwards, the Queenslander said he had basically won the 2025 Fight of the Year contender with one eye, eventually taking the bout on all three judges’ scorecards: 117-11, 116-112, 116-112.

Initially, it was expected a win over the previously undefeated Papot would see the Australian immediately call out new IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker, who won the vacant strap himself only last Sunday.

However Paro has now revealed he could potentially shift focus from the Irishman to fellow division kings Romero and Barrios – both of whom are in the camp of heavyweight US promoters PBC.

Paro’s own promoters No Limit have a strong working relationship with PBC.

Ironically, Paro has also sparred over 30 rounds against Las Vegas native Romero, and stresses he would have no hesitation challenging the WBC champ if his team can make the fight.

Speaking after Thursday night’s win with a right eye swollen shut, the 29-year-old said he was now ready for the division’s biggest names – and Romero specifically.

“Look, I’ve shared the ring with Rolly and we have a mutual respect,” the fighter said.

“So there’s no s*** talk here.

“Both of us know the other can fight and I’d actually say we’re mates.

“But I’d also love to take his belt.

“Anyone with a belt, I want them — and a fight between us absolutely makes sense.

“So we can have the fight and then still shake hands after.”

Pushed specifically on the sparring both men have already done, and how confident it has him of beating Romero, the Mackay southpaw continued: “We’ve shared the ring heaps of times in Las Vegas, sparred over 30 rounds.

“And sparring is sparring.

“But while there is respect there, and he is obviously champion for a reason, I’m also confident I get the job done in what would absolutely be one hell of a fight”.

Elsewhere, Paro also conceded the toughness of his battle against Papot, who came into the fight a $9 TAB outsider, could now have the division’s best convinced he was vulnerable at the new weight.

“And I hope they do,” he said.

“Not everything in this sport is rainbows and sunshine.

“It’s not going to look pretty all the time.

“He (Papot) was undefeated for a reason and hit me with some pearlers.”

Rose agreed, adding: “I hope people do think they saw opportunities against Liam.

“Because it’s going to be hard to get these champions to risk their belts against him.

“I know for a fact he can beat every one of them.

“So I hope they do think they can beat Liam off the back of that performance.

“I’d love for them to step into the ring with him.

“We’d love to get Rolly Romero, would love to get Mario Barrios and I’d love to do it out here in Australia.”

Paro also spoke about fighting through some 25 minutes with a right eye swollen and, coming into the championship rounds, seemingly shut completely.

“It’s not ideal,” he grinned.

“But you deal with adversity and move on.

“We’re in a fight.

“We’re not playing marbles.

“You bite down and have a crack.”

Fair to say you were fighting with one eye?

“Ah, yeah, 100 per cent I was fighting with one eye,” he grinned.

“But it happens.

“We’re trading punches and I was in the line of one, and it closed my eye.”

Which left you thinking what after he landed that punch, late in the fourth, which initially did the damage?

“Holy s***,” Paro laughed.

“And you just want to crack him back.

“There’s not much going through your head other than keep fighting.

“But you need these soul searching fights.

“It was a good scrap and I had to dig deep.

“He cracked me a few times and I cracked him.”

Despite having never fought at welterweight before, Paro said he had been comfortable moving up, and against a rival who had also competed several times as a middleweight.

“But I was trying to get into a fight too much,” he conceded.

“My coach (Alfie Di Carlo) wanted me to box.

“But I wanted to show that I could scrap at welterweight too.

“We got the ‘w’, now we move on.”

After winning and then losing the IBF super lightweight title last year, Paro is now gunning to become a two-division champion in 2026.

“We’re under no illusion what it takes to win a title,” Di Carlo said afterwards. “We’ve done it.

“And these are the type of fights, moving up a division, where you learn a lot about yourself.”

And as for how long the eye injury might keep him out?

“I’d go to f***ing training tomorrow,” the fighter laughed.

“But we’ll rest and see how it is.

“Sometimes it won’t be pretty, sometimes we cop battle scars.

“But I want to fight everyone.

“I love this s***.”