By Anthony Cocks
Liam Paro (27-1, 16 KOs) and Paddy Donovan (14-2, 11 KOs) will meet in an IBF welterweight title eliminator at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall, Queensland, Australia on January 16. An agreement is in place for the bout will take place on the undercard of the clash between Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa.
“There has been an agreement reached on that fight,” said George Rose of No Limit Boxing. “While it hasn’t been officially signed off, everything has been agreed on. A man’s handshake is pretty much as good as a contract. So that’s where we’re at right now. It is agreed. It’s going ahead. “Liam Paro will be fighting Paddy Donovan. This will be a final eliminator for that world title, and I’m stoked for Liam Paro. Because of the journey he’s had, becoming a world champion, losing his world title, and then fighting his way back to that position, we’ve been really excited for him to be on this journey to get back to the top where he belongs, and this is the fight that puts him there.” Australian southpaw Paro, 29, has won two fights in a row since moving up in weight this year following the loss of his IBF junior welterweight title to Richardson Hitchins last December. Donovan, 26, is coming off a pair of close losses to the undefeated Lewis Crocker this year. The Irish lefty was comfortably on all three judges’ scorecards in the first bout in March when he was disqualified at the end of the eighth for hitting after the bell. In the rematch six months later for the vacant IBF 147-pound title, Donovan held on for a split decision loss despite having to climb off the canvas twice. “It’s exciting. I believe I’ve got the tools – I’ll stay disciplined and think I’ll get it done,” said Paro. “He’s a good boxer. He’s gonna be a bit more conventional, compared to the last one, but we’ve just got to go out there and box smart. I’m finally building into welterweight. We’ve just got to go there with the game plan – I’ve got to execute it and I believe I’d get past most people by doing that. “It’s a blessing to be back on home soil. No Limit bringing the big fights to Australia. Being back fighting in front of my own people means the most to me – it’s truly special. Two-time world champion here, in Australia.” The winner of Paro-Donovan will put themself in line for a world title shot against Northern Ireland’s Crocker (22-0, 11 KOs).
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