Liam Paro’s journey in boxing, one that began on the rugby fields of Mackay, Queensland, is a study in both natural fighting aptitude and disciplined ambition. Born on April 16, 1996, Paro’s earliest sporting allegiance was to rugby league, playing for the North Mackay Magpies before a fateful introduction to boxing at age thirteen shifted his path for good. Recognising the potential for greatness, he soon made the calculated decision to leave rugby behind, focusing solely on the sweet science. Paro’s appetite for elite-level development saw him move across Queensland—from his hometown to Townsville at seventeen and eventually to Brisbane at twenty—each step engineered to access higher-calibre coaching and sparring. The move to Brisbane was pivotal, immersing him in the vibrant boxing culture of the city and giving him regular opportunities to spar with future world champion Jeff Horn, notably during Horn’s preparations for the career-defining bout against Manny Pacquiao.

Paro’s amateur pedigree is significant. He proved himself on the domestic scene, capturing the Australian National Youth Championship in 2013 and representing his nation internationally. His amateur record included 56 wins against only 8 losses, a testament to both activity and achievement. Paro’s style—southpaw, with a reach of 70.9 inches and standing at 5ft 9in—combined speed, technical skill, and an unteachable toughness forged through constant challenge in local and national competition. The ring IQ and composure he developed as an amateur laid the foundation for what was to come, instilling in Paro both resilience and confidence that would become trademarks as his career unfolded.

Turning professional at age nineteen, Paro debuted on March 5, 2016, at Brisbane’s Mansfield Tavern, outpointing Jacob Mahony over four rounds. The bout, won by unanimous decision, was a modest introduction but marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Over the first years of his career, Paro built his record within Australia, rapidly progressing through the ranks with a blend of measured matchmaking and clear dominance inside the ropes. His combination of body attack, lateral movement, and crisp punching power saw him dispatch a series of domestic rivals, notching victories in Brisbane, Mackay, Sydney, and Gold Coast as he claimed various regional belts—including the WBO Youth and Australian light-welterweight titles by early 2018. Each of these early nights added substance to his growing profile within Australian boxing circles.

International recognition found Paro in December 2021, when he faced the previously undefeated Yomar Álamo of Puerto Rico in Tampa, Florida. Headlining an undercard that blended celebrity and boxing, Paro weathered a first-round knockdown to secure a split decision over ten rounds, demonstrating both his grit and his capacity to adjust against unfamiliar styles under bright lights. This win, significant for its context and opposition, introduced him to a broader audience and catalysed his signing with Matchroom Boxing. The promotional move enabled access to international markets, bigger purses, and tougher opposition, propelling Paro into the thick of the super lightweight division’s world scene.

Back on home soil in October 2022, Paro starred atop Matchroom’s inaugural Australian card, facing Brock Jarvis—an undefeated fellow Queenslander off a notable US win and one of the country’s most hyped prospects. Paro closed the show emphatically, dispatching Jarvis with a single left hand in the first round at Brisbane’s South Bank Piazza. This performance resonated across the boxing world for its clinical brutality and sense of occasion. Paro’s following big statement came in December 2023 in San Francisco, where he dismantled Montana Love with a sixth-round knockout, further bolstering his status as a genuine world contender and defending his WBO Global super-lightweight belt with authority.

By June 2024, Paro was in Puerto Rico, matched with the fearsome IBF world champion Subriel Matias, who had a reputation for stopping opponents and was making his sixth world title defence. Paro, entering as the underdog, produced a career-high performance, boxing with poise and aggression to claim a unanimous decision and rip the title from Matias in the champion’s backyard. The result sent shockwaves through the division and confirmed Paro’s status among the elite at 140 pounds.

Though talks of a domestic superfight against Devin Haney surfaced in the aftermath, Paro would next defend his title against Richardson Hitchins, a slick, unbeaten contender from Brooklyn, in December 2024. In a tight battle at San Juan’s Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Paro dropped a split decision over twelve competitive rounds, surrendering his world title but earning credit for his grit and technical skill against world-class opposition.

Paro returned to Australian venues and continued his quest towards new heights. On June 25, 2025, he recorded a stoppage win over Jonathan Navarro at the Cairns Convention Centre, signalling both a move up to welterweight and his continued relevance among the top fighters in and around his natural weight class.