Paro wants to show he is Australia’s No. 1

NORTH Queensland fighter Liam Paro feels he has more of a point to prove after he floored Czech Sebastian Bytyqi and walked away with the World Boxing Organisation youth super- lightweight title.

He now wants to be Australia’s best in his weight division before taking on the world.

Paro, 22, is ranked Australia’s second best super- lightweight fighter behind Czar Amonsot.

The unbeaten fighter stunned the Czech in the second round on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

“I feel stoked, couldn’t ask for a better result,” Paro said.

The Upper Ross Hawks boxer will next fight Sydney’s Val Borg, who previously trained under Jeff Fenech, on July 28 in Melborurne.

“I can’t wait, it’s sort of our last test in the Australian ranks,” he said.

“Then I just keep working away to win a world title.”

The southpaw boxer will then have to defend his superlightweight title at the end of the year in either Townsville or Mackay.

As that fight is finalised, Paro said he would go up against anyone so long as the bout promoted him on the world stage.

“I’ll fight anyone that’s going to get me in that No. 1 spot,” he said.

“There’s no point taking punishment for nothing.”

Paro said sparring with world welterweight champion Jeff Horn helped along with the training put in with trainer Alfie Di Carlo.

Paro’s status rose within the boxing community soared as a result of Horn’s defeat of the legendary Manny Pacquiao last year, with Paro playing a crucial role in Horn’s preparations as a sparring partner.

Paro will fly to Las Vegas to support Horn in the bout against American Terence Crawford on June 10.

“I give Horn a chance anywhere, especially after beating ( Manny) Pacquiao,” he said.

Paro’s promoter Angelo Di Carlo said Paro had matured well and had not fallen victim to being too rushed.

“His trainer has trained him to calm down. He is very calm and collected,” Di Carlo said.

“The knockout comes you’re patient.” if