Stunning title win for Paro
AUSTRALIA has a new world boxing champion with North Queensland’s boy wonder Liam Paro scoring a stunning second- round stoppage over previously unbeaten Czech Sebastian Bytyqi at the Southport Sharks on Saturday night.
Paro, one of Jeff Horn’s key sparring partners, is now undefeated in 14 fights.
He took the World Boxing Organisation youth super- lightweight title, bouncing the Czech off the canvas twice in the second round with a series of pinpoint southpaw straight lefts.
Paro faced a tough opponent in Bytyqi.
Urged on by his trainer Lukas Konecny, a former world champ and Olympian, the lanky Czech came out firing behind a long left jab and had his moments in the opening round.
But showing the poise developed from sparring more than a hundred rounds with Horn, Paro fought with patience, striking swiftly when the moment arrived.
Paro was well supported by his trainer Alfie Di Carlo, fitness coach Ian Jacobs, the former world kickboxing champ, and cut man Stephen Edwards, who will be in Horn’s corner for the June 10 world title fight against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
Originally a member of Townsville club Upper Ross Hawks, Paro said sparring Horn had given him the extra polish needed to take the next rung up the boxing ladder.
Horn said he was thrilled by Paro’s performance.
“Liam never gave his opponent a chance,’’ Horn said.
Paro’s promoter Angelo Di Carlo is considering matching him with Sydney’s Val Borg, who beat Horn as an amateur.