Liam Paro is the latest Australian to take over the world of boxing – but the new super-lightweight world champion had to go “to hell and back” to achieve his dreams.
At the start of last year, Paro was dealt a devastating setback, injuring his Achilles and putting him on the shelf at the worst possible time.
The 28-year-old had the world at his feet when the injury occurred, but given the nature of the industry, was weighing up moving back home and giving up the sport.
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When all hope was seemingly lost, the undefeated Mackay product received a lifeline from one of his sponsors – Step One – jumped in and kept his boxing career afloat.
In an interview with Wide World of Sports, Paro revealed the company’s founder Greg Taylor told him not to be “stupid” and move home, instead backing him when countless others believed the injury could have derailed his world title ambitions.
“It honestly means the world to me,” Paro said.
“I ran the idea by him when I was injured about needing to find work and he was just like ‘Don’t be stupid, this is only a short-term thing’ and he had my back 110 per cent. He was a man of his word and it means the world to me and I will forever be grateful.
“Here we are, a year later, I’m the champion of the world. Time does heal and the grass is greener on the other side, I can agree with that saying.
“I believe the injury and the push away from boxing, not on my terms, was what re-sparked the fire in my belly. I didn’t know I needed that until it happened.
“I look at the positives in every outcome and at the time, it was crazy and this had been taken away from me. I definitely went to hell and back in that time – it was not a time I want to relive, but it’s all a part of it and it made me mentally stronger.”
Paro returned to the ring after a 14-month absence last December, scoring a knockout victory over Montana Love and put himself firmly in the mix for championship gold.
When the opportunity arose to take on Subriel Matias – one of the most dangerous men in the division - Paro was never going to shy away from the challenge, even if it meant travelling to the champion’s own backyard of Puerto Rico.
In a trademark Aussie underdog performance, Paro scored the upset victory by unanimous decision and took the IBF strap home with him in tough conditions.
“I knew it was gonna be hostile, I knew I was going into the lion’s den,” he said.
“People who know boxing know how big that was, but breaking it down to the casual fans and newcomers in boxing how big that win actually was is the hardest part.
“With the way I performed, I wasn’t worried. We have a lot of respect for the IBF and I was pretty content that we were gonna get a fair share. All I ever said was get me in the opposite corner of a world title and I will do the rest and I proved that.”
His post-fight interview, filled with F-bombs, put a smile on faces in north Queensland and across the country as Australia crowned another world champ.
But it was his touching tribute to childhood friend Regan Grieve that left many to empathise with the genuine nature of Paro’s rollercoaster ride to the top.
“It was all the emotion spilling out … I’m glad it came out the way it did because you’re not gonna get any more raw than that,” a reflective Paro said.
“It was just a childhood dream and a promise I made to my best friend and to be a man of my word was the biggest thing for me and I accomplished that.
“In 2015 my best childhood mate, Regan Grieve, passed away to suicide. He moved at a young age to pursue footy, he was signed with the North Queensland Cowboys.
“We were brothers … we did everything together and then that day happened and it took everyone by surprise. You can’t really explain the emotion, but it was probably the worst day of my life. Carrying my best friend down the aisle in his coffin was horrible.
“I said after the fight that I have been through worse things mentally than a boxing fight, like burying your best mate at a young age. Time does heal things, but it was a lot of emotion and I still start choking about it, it still hits close to home for me.
“I always said that I would never let anyone forget his name and I believe that I’m carrying his name very well. We have conquered the world, what we said we were going to do, we did it and for me to be able to do that for him means a lot.”
Paro literally and figuratively carries the spirit of Grieve with him wherever he goes, with his initials “RG” written on his fists and the date of his birth and death tattooed on his ribs as a reminder of what makes him strive for greatness.
With the biggest win of his career now in the rear-view mirror and the feeling of being a world champion now sinking in, Paro admits he can’t wait for what lies ahead.
“I just get hungrier now – I always wanted the target on my back,” he said.
“I’ve always taken from others and now it’s time for others to try and take what’s mine and you will see a different animal again.
“Anyone that has got a belt, you’re on my radar and coming for you. I’m a man of my word, I’ve proved that 25 times and I’m coming to unify and be the king of the division.
“Just jump on board, it’s Paro time and I’m a proud Aussie and you will get to see that. Follow the journey and we will have a fun ride to the top.”
Paro has a 25-0 undefeated record and with a stacked weight class, there’s plenty of opportunities for marquee bouts later in the year.
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