- Liam Paro silenced his noisy rival in San Francisco
- The Australian defeated Montana Love within six rounds
- Paro is knocking on the door for a world title fight
Liam Paro dropped Montana Love twice in one round on his way to victory in San Francisco to put further pressure on his world boxing title.
The super lightweight prospect had received a verbal barrage from American Love prior to Saturday's date at Chase Center.
Love claimed he would 'retire' him and that Mackay product Paro was not ready for the bright lights after fighting 'ducks' in Australia.
Paro delivered the ultimate rebuttal in a sixth round that sparked an otherwise dull fight, with the 27-year-old sending Love to the canvas twice with powerful left punches.
Love tried to fight on, but a ruthless Paro moved to 24-0 when the referee stopped the action moments later.
Liam Paro silenced his vocal rival with a dominant win in San Francisco
Paro was told that Montana Love would 'retire' him ahead of their fight
It was Paro's first fight since a first-round knockout of Brock Jarvis last October, after an Achilles injury robbed him of a world title at Regis Prograis in June and a facial fracture kept him from another fight in England.
Prograis was the main fight on the same card in San Francisco, but was outclassed over twelve rounds by Devin Haney, who won the WBC super lightweight title.
Haney has moved up a weight class since the union of the lightweight division thanks to double wins against Australian George Kambosos Jnr.
Paro is currently only ranked in the top 15 of one organization (WBO, 11th), although his latest win will certainly boost his stock as he pursues bigger fights.
Earlier on the same card, Australia's Ebanie Bridges lost her IBF bantamweight defense to Japan's Miyo Yoshida, who was a replacement to fight when compatriot Avril Mathie pulled out injured.
'It wasn't my night; big congratulations to my opponent. She was the better fighter,” Bridges said after the unanimous points decision went against her.
However, Paro had the last laugh, knocking Love down twice before sealing the win
'Beautiful and modest single mother.
'When I saw how much that victory meant to her and her daughter, I felt a little warm inside.
“Loss doesn't define me. I have no stopping. It's all a matter of learning and I'll come back better and stronger.'
On Saturday in Melbourne, former world super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney defeated Filipina Judy Flores by unanimous points decision.
It was dubbed a must-win encounter for Moloney, who was back in the ring for the first time since a devastating final-round knockout while fighting for a world title.