Liam Paro edges Lewis Crocker to win IBF welterweight world title

Liam Paro takes his place in Australian sporting history, joining Jeff Fenech, as his country’s second-ever two-division champion.

Considering George Rose’s earlier words, is a Manny Pacquiao super-fight something that No Limit Boxing can secure?

Paro wanted to bring the big names to Australia. They rarely come bigger than Manny.

“This means everything. It’s a long, hard road. Here I am, again,” said Paro, to Ben Damon on Main Event. “Lewis Crocker is a true champion, I respect you for life.”

Paro finished by remarking that he wants the big fights, but wants to bring them to Australia.

All three were in agreement!

115-113.

That’s the same score as Uncrowned. But who got the nod?

AND NEW! It goes to Paro! A new IBF welterweight champion is crowned!

… this one really could go either way.

… Crocker barely looks like he’s got a scratch.

Paro, though, has cuts and bruising all over his face. His eye is swollen. He’s bleeding.

Yet, per the 12-round scoring, Uncrowned has him as the unofficial winner.

Incredible!

Paro’s eye continues to swell from Crocker’s targeted punching. He snaps his head back with a big right hand! The champion is pushing it to the wire! Has Paro surrendered the championship rounds? Will it even matter if he’s built a big enough lead, anyway? Crocker is all over Paro!!! Paro is cut! Crocker won’t leave him alone! There’s blood everywhere! Paro looks battered! There’s a minute left and Crocker is sticking it on him! Where was this Crocker earlier in the fight? What a scrap! What a fight! What a performance from both Crocker and Paro!

Round 12: 115-113 — Paro

Big bounceback round in the 11th from Crocker!

He hits him with hooks! He lands shots to the body! He stalks Paro around the ring! Two-punch combination. Head to the body! This is great work from Crocker! An all Crocker round! The champion doesn’t want to give his title up just yet!

Round 11: 106-103 — Paro.

Paro remained impressive in the 10th, continuing to outbox Crocker with his southpaw jab, another, and then, when there were openings, a one-two, and a one-two-three. Paro returns to the corner with swelling on his eye, but has boxed superbly.

Round 10: 97-93 — Paro

Crocker has a few moments in the round, especially some shots to the body, but those moments are just too few and too far between, especially when Paro stays on his toes, refuses to allow Crocker to set, and threw so many more punches than the champion.

Round 9: 87-84 — Paro

Paro boxes well against the ropes, when under-fire, to turn away from Crocker while attacking. He’s in the groove, now. But Crocker makes Paro dig deep with his big shots that the challenger is forced to eat. Paro takes a right hand to land a big left, which even got a nod from Crocker as if to say, ‘Hey, you got me.’

Round 8: 77-75 — Paro

Paro’s corner bouyed by his work as the fighter keeps throwing punches, and dictacting the fight again through sheer volume. “You’re going to change your life,” they say, imploring him not to engage as it hands the fight to Crocker.

Round 7: 67-66 — Paro

Crocker’s patience takes its toll as he commands the middle rounds while Paro tires from the activity, and yet he still fights fresh. That power could be coming through.

Round 6: 57-57

Paro with beautiful shots in the fifth, a right to the jaw followed by a left hook to the other cheek. Clean work from the challenger! Crocker puts his guard up as Paro works the jab. Crocker fights fire with fire. Cronks Paro with a stiff right hand. Great shots from the champion!

Round 5: 48-47 — Paro

Paro, again, just outworking Crocker. Dictating the fight with his left hand. Crocker still had the power advantage, and got the better in some exchanges because of it, but could be guilty of chasing the knockout rather than boxing his way into it.

Round 4: 39-37 — Paro

By the third, the story of the fight was clear. Crocker carried far more power, and it was something that his corner believed was their best asset, seemingly thinking Paro will eventually wilt. But Paro is busy, active, and just continually throwing punches in bunches. Better third, from the visiting Brit.

Round 3: 29-28 — Paro

Powerful left hand from Paro to start the second round. Paro, again with sheer volume, appeared to be winning the round but Crocker showed signs of turning the tide when he bloodied the Aussie. Body shot from Crocker but Paro controls the fight with his left hand, and left uppercut. Crocker will need to find a way to nullify both weapons if he’s to successfully defend his title.

Round 2: 20-18 — Paro

Crocker boxed upright from the opening bell, with his right glove by his chin and his left cocked for pawing, and jabbing. He fought lean, tall, and at length. Paro, on the outside, used more movement, threw shots to the body while keeping the jab working. Paro seemed to have the activity. Gripping first round with both fighters giving a reasonable account of themselves.

Round 1: 10-9 — Paro

… and he’s coming out to Metallica. A classic ring-walk song. Crank it up. I want the neighbours hearing this.

… and he’s looking like Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee.

Leather vest and a stetson.

I dig it.

…SING SWEET CAROLINE.

It’s not just the Brits who belt it out. It’s also the Aussies. Fair dinkem.

Sooner or later the Americans will adopt it, too.