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Up-and-coming Australian boxing star Liam Paro has revealed how the tragic death of his best friend has inspired him after the biggest win of his career.
The undefeated Australian caught the attention of the boxing world – most recently with a stunning first round knockout of Brock Jarvis in Brisbane, and he gave Daily Mail Australia an insight into just how remarkable the journey to that victory has been.
The skilled Queensland southpaw took just 149 seconds to make his brutal statement with a left hook that sent the Jeff Fenech-trained opponent crashing to the canvas.
Unbeaten Australian boxer Liam Paro (pictured) took 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 skilled Queensland southpaw (pictured left) took just 149 seconds to make his ferocious 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 in the WBO – behind hard hitting American Teofimo Lopez – and his win over Jarvis will bolster his claim for a shot at the title and fulfill a promise to a childhood friend who tragically passed away.
“I’ve always said I was the best fighter in the country and if that’s not a statement then I don’t know what you want,” he said after the fight.
“I hope Brock is okay, you don’t want fighters to go down like this.”
The former worker was still buzzing a week later, describing the event as the “perfect outcome.”
Paro is currently #2 in the WBO – behind hard hitting American Teofimo Lopez – and his win over Jarvis (pictured) will bolster his claim for a shot at the title
“I couldn’t have written the script any better. To end it on the first lap was a dream come true,” Paro told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I am always ready for war. The opening was there, so I grabbed it with both hands. I made sure he didn’t get up either.’
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 childhood buddy Regan Grieve, an outstanding rugby league player who captained the Queensland under-18 squad and was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys.
Paro’s childhood 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 committed suicide in 2015 at the age of 18, leaving Paro completely devastated.
‘People talk about their why. That’s my why,” Paro explained.
‘I made him a promise. I got the ‘Conquer the World’ tattoo – he was going to box NRL and me. Now I do it for both of us.
“So, if I’m in pain and won’t get out of bed, I think I should get up and do this for both of us. I’m a man of my word and I promised him I would be world champion – so I’m going to make it happen.”
Regan Grieve (right) is pictured with NRL legend Sam Thaiday. Paro says he made his friend a promise he plans to keep
Paro was also a young football talent but fell in love with boxing at the age of 13 after seeing a neighbor going to the gym.
He had a meteoric rise in the sport, quickly becoming the sparring partner of former world champion Jeff Horn in his fight against Manny Pacquiao, and then again for his fight with Terence Crawford.
Horn was quick to praise the young southpaw at the time and say 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,” Paro says.
“And also training with Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson was huge for my confidence.
“For me it was great to get in there and give them competitive rounds. These guys are the best of the best. I hear there. I have to keep proving it under the bright lights. I belong to the top and I will stay there for a while.;
Major promoter Eddie Hearn is another Aussie believer 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 truly world-class performance, a stunning knockout that will be played over and over all over the world for the next few days,” said Hearn.
“He is ready to fight for the world championship.
“Josh Taylor will be fighting Jack Catterall, and it looks like he (Paro) should be mandatory for the winner.
“If they want to leave, it’s Liam Paro against Teofimo Lopez and I will do everything I can to get that to Australia,” Hearn said.
Liam Paro (right) is pictured with former World Featherweight Champion Shakur Stevenson
Paro says he doesn’t care which one he has to fight for the world title, as long as it happens quickly.
“It doesn’t matter who I fight for the world title next year, I’ve proved how good I am. I’d like to fight them all and kill them one by one.’
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