Liam Paro became just the second Australian-born male, after the legendary Jeff Fenech, to claim world titles in multiple weight divisions when he defeated Lewis Crocker over 12 rounds in Brisbane.
The Aussie southpaw collected the IBF welterweight title, having previously held the same belt at super lightweight, in his home state, getting the nod on all three judges’ cards (115-113 x3).
In what was an incredibly close fight, Paro started the busier of the pair, firing off sharp counter combinations to bank early rounds and ultimately set up the victory.
Northern Ireland’s Crocker had been on the front foot for most of the fight but only began to find real success through the later rounds, including an onslaught over the final minutes which had the crowd at Pat Rafter Arena nervous prior to the cards being read out.
In the chief support, Nelson Asofa-Solomona moved to 3-0 as a professional, stopping a game George Burgess in the third round.
Burgess took some big shots in the opening stages but gave back enough to make things difficult for NAS at times.
Asofa-Solomona’s offence eventually saw the Englishman’s corner throw in the towel mid-way through the third.
Earlier on the undercard, Demsey McKean scored a fourth-round TKO victory over Liam Talivaa following a heavyweight slugfest which had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Local cruiserweight Luke Modini moved to 14-0 with a round three stoppage of China’s Peng Qu, while Stevan Ivic made light work of Caleb Tialu, also recording a third-round TKO.
Here’s how it all went down:
Lewis Crocker vs. Liam Paro fight updates and highlights
Liam Paro dethrones Lewis Crocker over 12 rounds
(115-113 x3)
Round 12: Crocker starts the final round on the front foot. Paro’s head snapped back by a right hand. A nice combo on the counter finds the target for Paro. Crocker continues going for it. Time is called as the doctor checks out a cut above Paro’s left eye. We’re back on. Great counter for Paro with a left hand. That’s it! Probably a Crocker round. It could be a draw. No confidence in that prediction. Good luck all.
114-114
Round 11: Into the championship rounds we go. Crocker pounds into the body. Paro wears one upstairs. Crocker is going for it now. Masses of pressure from Crocker, who has some success but Paro doing his best to circle away and fire back. Crocker whiffs a wild right hand. Paro takes a shot to the back of the head and they call time while the doctor checks on the Aussie. We are back on, no point taken. Crocker going for broke now. Champ’s round
105-104 Paro
Round 10: Crocker seemingly with plenty left to give but Paro up for the fight. More scoring shots from Paro as the champ enters into range. Crocker definitely getting more of a reaction when he lands but at the moment it’s mostly single shots. They trade left hooks in close. Crocker finishes the round strongly. Another coinflip. Crocker maybe? I’ve given up.
96-94 Paro
Round 9: Crocker lands a left halfway through the round after some back-and-forth action. Paro continues to score but Crocker seemingly comfortable taking the shots. Crocker gets to work after backing the local hope up on the ropes. Another tight one, we’re giving it to Crocker but who knows.
87-84 Paro
Round 8: A big left hand lands for Crocker but Paro immediately counters with a rapid combination. Crocker complains about a back of the head shot. Incredibly evenly matched at the moment as both guys enjoy periods of success. A straight left for Paro briefly halts Crocker’s forward march. Strong finish gets it for the challenger in our books.
78-74 Paro
Round 7: More of the same with Crocker hunting and Paro countering. The pace getting to Paro slightly, who is finding himself in front of Crocker more. Possibly a Crocker round?
68-65 Paro
Round 6: Crocker bounces out of his corner. Paro popping the combos but a right hand sneaks through for Crocker. Paro warned for a back of the head shot, shortly after Crocker suggested he’d been hit low. The champ misses on a wild right hand. Paro fires back a sharp flurry of uppercuts. Another close one, depends if the judges are favouring volume or single, big shots. A close Paro round for us but we could be watching through Aussie-tinted glasses.
59-55 Paro
Round 5: A really good moment for Paro as he thuds a left hook into Crocker’s dome, forcing the champ to shell up. Paro continues to upset Crocker’s rhythm with sharp counter combinations. The Northern Irishman certainly not going anywhere at this stage, though as a right hand snaps Paro’s head back. Great round. Another close one. Crocker the bigger shots but Paro the volume. Paro gets it for us but could go either way.
49-46 Paro
Round 4: Crocker may have to get more aggressive here. Some nice body work by the Queenslander. Solid variety of punches from Paro as he looks for a way around the guard. Crocker lands a right hand in the clinch. Crocker on the march still and finds some joy as Paro resets. The Belfast product definitely showing more urgency now but Paro lands a left right on the bell. Close round, maybe Crocker just.
39-37 Paro
Round 3: The champ backs Paro up early on but the Aussie is good enough to angle out of danger and then fires off some offence of his own. Crocker gets busy at close range but Paro is up to trade with him. Paro gets a warning for leading with his head. The southpaw is putting together multiple shots but largely into Crocker’s guard. Several left hands late in the round swing it to the Aussie.
30-27 Paro
Round 2: Similar pattern to the first, although Paro now adding in some right hooks to the mix. Crocker’s high guard holding firm for now as he looks for a way in. The challenger firing off some sharp combinations in counter. They tangle briefly. Crocker lands a straight right hand late in the round.
20-18 Paro
Round 1: Paro on the jab early. Crocker watchful but looking to press forward. Paro far busier and mixing in some hooks. Crocker ducks under one. Right hook lands for Paro who looks confident. Crocker continues to push forward but can’t get to the Aussie just yet.
10-9 Paro
9:36 pm: Both fighters are in the ring for the main event. Follow along with our unofficial scorecard.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona takes out tough George Burgess
Burgess made Asofa-Solomona work for his third professional victory, taking the former Storm front-rower into the third round.
A gassed Burgess had used most of his petrol in the opening round but made things difficult enough for NAS before the Kiwi’s offence eventually proved too much, with the corner throwing in the towel.
Demsey McKean takes out heavyweight slugfest with Liam Talivaa
Towering southpaw McKean emerged victorious inside four action-packed rounds against Talivaa.
Both fighters landed big shots but it was McKean who was hurting his opponent more consistently, including a knockdown shortly before the finish.
Luke Modini records another knockout
Impressive Queensland cruiserweight Luke Modini moved to 14-0 with 12 KOs thanks to a dominant performance against China’s Peng Qu.
A left hand late in the third round dropped Qu, whose corner threw in the towel as their fighter attempted to beat the count.
Stevan Ivic stops Caleb Tialu inside three
Australian heavyweight champion Ivic made light enough work of Tialu in this non-title bout, dropping him with two right hands before getting the stoppage shortly after following a sharp combination.
Jack Javed takes out the G-string showdown
After stunning at yesterday’s weigh-in, Javed proved too sharp for a game Lance McDonald, dropping him in the first before forcing Phil Austin stepped in during the third.
Vegas Larfield outclasses Shamal Ram Anuj
Almost a year to the day since his last outing, Larfield proved too good for Anuj, outworking the Fijian and eventually forcing the stoppage in the fourth.
Riley Candy stops Brayden Rawlins in the first
In the battle of the Queenslanders, Candy gets the job done quickly, dropping Rawlins twice on the way to a first-round knockout.
Lewis Crocker vs. Liam Paro full fight card and results
- Liam Paro def. Lewis Crocker via UD12 for the IBF welterweight title (115-113 x3)
- Nelson Asofa-Solomana def. George Burgess via TKO3 – Heavyweight
- Demsey McKean def. Liam Talivaa via TKO4 – Heavyweight
- Luke Modini def. Peng Qu via TKO3 – Cruiserweight
- Stevan Ivic def. Caleb Tialu via TKO3 – Heavyweight
- Jack Javed def. Lance McDonald via TKO3 – Super welterweight
- Vegas Larfield def. Shamal Ram Anuj via TKO4 – Featherweight
- Riley Candy def. Brayden Rawlins via TKO1 – Super middleweight
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