Latest news with #welterweight
The Australian
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Liam Paro fight: Paro to move up to welterweight, turning down super-lightweight world title eliminator
Liam Paro will give up his IBF super-lightweight world title eliminator fight with Mexico's Lindolfo Delgado and move up to welterweight. After making the 140-pound (63.5kg) limit for 10 straight years, Code Sports understands the Queenslander is now struggling to make the weight class and will move up a division. Paro is ranked fifth at super-lightweight with The Ring, and is in the top five with the WBO, IBF and WBC. The move to 147 pounds (66.7kg) means he won't join Kostya Tszyu in becoming a two-time super-lightweight world champion, but opens up the possibility of big-money bouts against the likes of Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, Brian Norman Jr and Ryan Garcia. Liam Paro destroyed Johnathan Navarro. Picture: No Limit Boxing The other big names in the mix are WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios, who held onto his title with a draw against the great Manny Pacquiao in the headline fight of Tim Tszyu's loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas. Paro has even spoken about one day facing modern day great Pacquiao at some stage, telling Fox Sports, 'I'd love that fight. 'Manny, he's one of my favourite fighters. And to have his name on my resume would be something special.' The move up to one of boxing's glamour divisions is in line with turning 'The Prodigy' into Australia's next PPV boxing star, alongside Tim and Nikita Tszyu. A Cowboys diehard, there have even been preliminary talks of having Paro fight in Las Vegas on the same weekend that North Queensland play Newcastle in the 2026 season opener in Sin City. Mario Barrios (L) and Manny Pacquiao (R) fought to a draw in their WBC welterweight world title fight in Las Vegas. Picture:Paro most recently scored a thunderous fifth round stoppage win over Johnathan Navarro in his Australian homecoming in Cairns in June. That bout was his first on home soil since his first round knockout of Brock Jarvis in Brisbane in 2022. Since then, the 29-year-old knocked out the highly touted Montana Love before scoring one of the biggest boilovers of 2024 with a unanimous decision world title win over Subriel Matias. He relinquished the IBF world title in a split decision defeat to slick American Richardson Hitchens in December before his Far North Queensland homecoming in June. Paro had been linked to super-lightweight bouts with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz, Romero and Delgado, but his team is understood to see more of a future at welterweight. Paro has been loosely pencilled in to fight again in September. Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Liam Paro to turn down world title eliminator and move up a division, eyes off big-money bouts
Liam Paro will give up his IBF super-lightweight world title eliminator fight with Mexico's Lindolfo Delgado and move up to welterweight. After making the 140-pound (63.5kg) limit for 10 straight years, Code Sports understands the Queenslander is now struggling to make the weight class and will move up a division. Paro is ranked fifth at super-lightweight with The Ring, and is in the top five with the WBO, IBF and WBC. The move to 147 pounds (66.7kg) means he won't join Kostya Tszyu in becoming a two-time super-lightweight world champion, but opens up the possibility of big-money bouts against the likes of Rolando 'Rolly' Romero, Brian Norman Jr and Ryan Garcia. The other big names in the mix are WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios, who held onto his title with a draw against the great Manny Pacquiao in the headline fight of Tim Tszyu's loss to Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas. Paro has even spoken about one day facing modern day great Pacquiao at some stage, telling Fox Sports, 'I'd love that fight. 'Manny, he's one of my favourite fighters. And to have his name on my resume would be something special.' The move up to one of boxing's glamour divisions is in line with turning 'The Prodigy' into Australia's next PPV boxing star, alongside Tim and Nikita Tszyu. A Cowboys diehard, there have even been preliminary talks of having Paro fight in Las Vegas on the same weekend that North Queensland play Newcastle in the 2026 season opener in Sin City. Paro most recently scored a thunderous fifth round stoppage win over Johnathan Navarro in his Australian homecoming in Cairns in June. That bout was his first on home soil since his first round knockout of Brock Jarvis in Brisbane in 2022. Since then, the 29-year-old knocked out the highly touted Montana Love before scoring one of the biggest boilovers of 2024 with a unanimous decision world title win over Subriel Matias. He relinquished the IBF world title in a split decision defeat to slick American Richardson Hitchens in December before his Far North Queensland homecoming in June. Paro had been linked to super-lightweight bouts with Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz, Romero and Delgado, but his team is understood to see more of a future at welterweight. Paro has been loosely pencilled in to fight again in September.
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Manny Pacquiao aims to break own record in $3m world title fight
Jeff Mayweather – the uncle of the legendary Floyd Mayweather – said it best this week. Manny Pacquiao is only returning to boxing for the money. But the veteran trainer goes even further, saying the whole promotion of his showdown with Mario Barrios this weekend is skewed in Pacquiao's favour so the Filipino icon can retire as one of the greats. 'I don't know why he's coming back – well I guess I've heard … money – but he's just putting himself out there to retire forever,' Mayweather told Code Sports ahead of Pacquiao's WBC welterweight world title fight with Barrios in Las Vegas this weekend. 'This is all set up, it's for him to win. 'He's making the most money. And Barrios is a young fighter that still has a long time left in the sport and can still become a world champion again. Manny Pacquiao is coming back after a four year lay-off. Picture: PBC Boxing 'This is basically one last shot for Manny.' Pacquiao is a modern boxing great and fought in one of the biggest bouts in the sport's history against Floyd Mayweather. But he's 46 now and hasn't fought in four years. He hasn't even won a fight in six years. Tim Tszyu, who fights Sebastian Fundora in the co-main event, is tipping Barrios to win. 'Age isn't just a number in boxing,' he told Code Sports. 'Even though Manny Pacquiao is Manny Pacquiao, it's a big ask. 'He's a legend and he's cemented his legacy, but he's going in with a young, hungry lion.' He's the only eight division world champion in boxing history, but Pacquiao is a $3.10 underdog against the all action champion Barrios, and if he wins he'll set a new world record as the oldest titleholder in welterweight history. Jeff Mayweather fought Oscar de la Hoya. Picture: The Ring Magazine via Getty Images He already holds that record, set when he scored a split decision win over Keith Thurman in July 2019. The idea that Pacquiao – as great as he is – is allowed to come out of retirement and immediately land a world title shot, has rubbed many boxing people the wrong way. 'It seems unfair to me how this was done,' Mayweather said. 'Manny hasn't fought in four years, yet he gets an immediate title shot. 'That's not right. 'You have fighters that are in that weight class, and ranked one, two, three and four. 'But this man came from retirement and took all that thunder. 'Anyone who was next in line didn't get their shot.' Pacquiao's Australian trainer, Justin Fortune confirms Mayweather's claims about the mega payday Pacquiao stands to make. And the Los Angeles-based trainer, and former heavyweight contender, says Pacquiao may continue fighting after this weekend. Pacquiao can break his own world record as the oldest welterweight world champion this weekend. Picture: PBC Boxing 'If they offered you a lot of money, you'd fight too,' Fortune told Code Sports after Pacquiao fronted a huge press conference at the MGM Grand on Thursday. Fortune says it's not just Pacquiao cashing in, but Barrios too. And anyone else who fights him. 'The offers will come, and they'll come from a lot of fighters – they all want the payday,' he said. 'It's called prize fighting for a reason. 'You're there for the money, and right now, Pacquiao's the money. 'I would imagine (he'll keep fighting) but we just need to get through this bloke first. 'Manny's had a good camp, he's listened and he's done his stuff. He's listened to his body, he's fast, strong and he's happy.' Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
The Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Tim Tszyu's camp hits back as Keith Thurman vows to end Aussie's career
Former two-time welterweight world champion Keith Thurman has taken an extraordinary swipe at Tim Tszyu, saying the Aussie 'thinks he's the shit' and blaming his shattering defeat to Sebastian Fundora on poor tactics. Thurman didn't pull his punches, hitting Tszyu at his lowest moment, just minutes after the loss. Tszyu's corner stopped the fight after the seventh round of the world title rematch, before Thurman promised to end his career if they ever fought. The pair were supposed to fight in March last year, before Thurman pulled out with injury. Thurman knocked out Brock Jarvis in Sydney in March, and there were plans for the loud-mouthed American to fight Tszyu on the Gold Coast this month until the Fundora rematch popped up. Keith Thurman has taken aim at Tim Tszyu. Picture: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous Earlier in the week, Thurman said he'd be interested in fighting the winner of Tszyu-Fundora 2, but promised it wouldn't end well for the Aussie. 'How bad do you want Tim Tszyu to get beat up? Do y'all hate Tim Tszyu?' he told The Punch Podcast in Las Vegas when asked if he'd still be interested in that fight. 'Do ya'll want to see him get murdered? 'You take me over to the Gold Coast and I will end Tim Tszyu's career. 'If that's what y'all want to see, pay me.' After his third defeat in four fights, Thurman said Tszyu was too insulated training in Australia. 'He thinks he's the shit,' he said. 'Boxing, in the real world, outside Australia, boxing is a plethora of talent and skills and opposition. 'He thought he was going to fly over here and handle it last year. 'He lost the world title, he fought Bakhram for the world title, he had one comeback fight and tried to win the world title again. 'They just rushed to put him back at the top. 'The kid's not done, but they need to pick the right fights. They need to pick somebody who's better than Spencer, but who's not a world champion.' Tim Tszyu faces an uncertain future after a disastrous defeat to Sebastian Fundora. Picture: No Limit Boxing Thurman was ringside for the bout, and was scathing in his assessment of Tszyu's approach. 'He landed a few shots, right on the chin. They just weren't hard enough, they just weren't flush enough,' he said. 'It's just tactics. I don't think Tim Tszyu's tactical enough. 'There's no evidence Tim Tszyu can beat Fundora. Period. It's a tough fight, an awkward fight. 'After the second fight, clearly, he wasn't able to conquer that mountain top.' TSZYU CAMP HITS BACK AT TROLLS No Limit CEO George Rose has launched a fiery defence of Tim Tszyu, hitting back at online trolls who are slamming the Aussie after his world title defeat to Sebastian Fundora. After a brief conversation, Tszyu's corner stopped the bout at the end of the seventh round. Ironically, the seventh was probably the best round of the fight for Tszyu. It's unclear who exactly made the call to stop the bout, but online critics were quick to label the Aussie a 'quitter'. Tim Tszyu, left, fights Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight title match. Picture: No Limit Boxing Speaking just minutes after the stunning defeat, Rose angrily clapped back at the pile-on. 'My thing is, I always ignore them,' Rose said of online trolls. 'People who feel that way aren't people whose opinions and values are similar to those I hold myself. 'You give me any man online or across the country, or absolutely anywhere, who can step in the ring with Sebastian Fundora and do any better than what Tim did…there's no person out there who could've got in and done any better. 'Sebastian Fundora is an absolute weapon. It's impossible to do any better than what Tim put out there tonight. 'I thought he was an absolute warrior. (Fundora) is just really bloody good.' Referee Harvey Dock gives a count to Tim Tszyu after he was knocked down in the first round. Picture: Getty Images Tszyu's camp said the fighter was 'gassed' and didn't have anything left in his legs from all the jabs Fundora sent his way. Compubox stats revealed the American threw an incredible 306 jabs in seven rounds and landed 152 of the 596 total punches he threw. Meanwhile Tszyu connected with just 72 of the 204 total punches he threw. A No Limit spokesperson said the corner made a decision as a collective to stop the fight. 'He was gassed more than he was hurt,' Rose said. 'The punch output from Fundora, not only was he hard to get into, the punch output, he must have been doing 200 punches a round. 'It was ridiculous. 'Tim's constant movement to get in there, the amount of punches you have to take to get in there, it wears you down.' Rose called on Aussies to stick behind Tszyu after his third defeat in four fights. Tim Tszyu's corner stopped the fight in the seventh round. Picture: No Limit Boxing 'If you looked at what Tim Tszyu put out there tonight and think he's any less than a warrior who fought his arse off and threw absolutely everything he had at Fundora – and after being knocked down in the first round, getting up, coming back at him when his legs aren't under him and still throwing everything he can at Fundora – that's a warrior effort,' he said. 'That's someone you have to admire. 'As Australians, that's what we've always admired. We have been underdogs all our lives. 'We've fought for everything. 'We're that small country Down Under that's trying to compete on the world stage. 'We're always the underdog and we need to respect ourselves as that and support our Australians. 'I'm a supporter of someone no matter what. 'Win, lose or draw. 'You bust your arse, you get more respect than winning without effort. 'And the effort Tim Tszyu showed tonight, he's someone who deserves respect. 'Deserves support right now. 'When you take a loss, that's when you need the support most.' Brendan Bradford Content producer Brendan Bradford is a sports writer for CODE Sports. He primarily covers combat sports, league, union, cycling and athletics. Brendan has worked in sports media for a decade, covering world title fights, World Cups, Grand Slams and Spring Tours. @1bbradfo Brendan Bradford
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The legend of Carmen Basilio: The 'Onion Farmer' who won Fight of the Year 5 straight times
Since The Ring magazine starting handing out Fight of the Year awards in 1945, it is fittingly the sport's most famous participant, Muhammad Ali, who has won it the most times. Following closely behind Ali's six awards is New York's Carmen Basilio with five. And Basilio's feat is even more impressive because he won all five in consecutive years from 1955 to 1959, whereas it took Ali 15 years to win six awards. That's a pretty remarkable stretch of entertaining fights for Basilio, which shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with his pugnacious fighting style. He was a specialist in trench warfare, relying on his granite chin, relentless pace and unyielding resilience to batter and overwhelm his opponents. Growing up the son of an onion farmer in Canastota, Basilio often helped in the fields, which is why he chose the ring sobriquet of "The Upstate Onion Farmer." Enduring that back-breaking labor strengthened the young Basilio's resolve, and undoubtedly forged the toughness that would later become the trademark of his Hall of Fame fighting career. So who did Basilio face in five consecutive Fights of the Year? 1955 FOTY: Basilio vs. Tony DeMarco II Date: Nov. 30, 1955 Location: Boston, MA Basilio first fought Tony DeMarco in June 1955 in Syracuse, New York, where he snatched DeMarco's welterweight title by 12th-round stoppage. The rematch took place five months later at the Boston Garden, where Demarco was searching for revenge in front of his hometown fans. According to the Wilmington Daily Press Journal, Basilio "was knocked backed onto his heels several times during the first, fourth, and fifth sessions, and was nearly knocked out in the seventh round by a left hook to the chin that buckled Basilio's knees and almost dropped him." DeMarco further staggered Basilio several times in the eighth round. But the resilient Basilio demonstrated otherworldly recuperative powers in surviving those rocky moments and turning the tide in the second half of the fight. It was Basilio's pressure and unending torrent of hooks that ultimately wore DeMarco down, as he scored two knockdowns in the 12th, which forced the referee to stop the fight. "I hit DeMarco on the top of the head in the second and the hand bothered me the rest of the way," said Basilio in the Wichita Beacon. "After the fifth round, I knew he would run out of gas. It was just a question of time." DeMarco's trainer, Sammy Fuller, was not happy with the strategy their fighter employed. "Tony fought the wrong fight again — just like the last time. He didn't follow our instructions to box the guy more. He kept trying for the knockout. He was all right when he was boxing, but he didn't do enough of it." 1956 FOTY: Basilio vs. Johnny Saxton II Date: Sept. 12, 1956 Location: Syracuse, NY After beating DeMarco, Basilio's 12-fight win streak was halted when he lost his welterweight title by controversial decision to Johnny Saxton on March 14, 1956, in Chicago. Given the disputed nature of the first fight, a rematch with Saxton was held six months later at the War Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse in front of over 8,500 of Basilio's supporters. Part of the reason why it was such a violent battle was because of Saxton's courageous — albeit unwise — decision to engage Basilio toe-to-toe rather than box him. Although Saxton got his licks in, he was never going to beat the master brawler at his own game. Basilio hurt Saxton with several left hooks at the end of the fourth, but Saxton was able to survive the round. Saxton rebounded in the sixth with his best round by employing his typical boxing style and using his jab to keep Basilio away. But Saxton's success in the sixth was short-lived as Basilio opened up a bad cut on Saxton's lip in the seventh round, which took 15 stitches to close, and forced Saxton to "swallow enough blood to make him sick for several days." In the ninth round, Basilio landed a potent overhand right that wobbled Saxton, which he followed with an assortment of power punches until the referee called a halt to the bout. It was only the second time Saxton had been knocked out in 60 fights. Basilio was pleased with his performance, which was far superior to their first fight. "I didn't have to chase him like I did in Chicago," said Basilio to the Plain Speaker. Saxton also acknowledged the role he played in losing his title: "I tried to fight the fan's fight — they don't want you to run." 1957 FOTY: Basilio vs. Suger Ray Robinson I Date: Sept. 23, 1957 Location: New York, NY After stopping Saxton in their rematch, Basilio beat Saxton again and then Harold Jones. The Canastota native then decided to take on the biggest challenge of his career by moving up a division to middleweight to fight the irreproachable Sugar Ray Robinson. By then, Robinson was 36 years old and had already fought close to 150 times as a professional. He retired in 1952 and had been out of the ring for two and a half years before he made a comeback in 1955. Since returning to the ring, he had gone 9-2, including twice regaining the middleweight title. Going into his title defense against Basilio at Yankee Stadium, even though Robinson was past his prime, he was still a monumental adversary to overcome. Robinson took full advantage of his size and reach as he landed stiff jabs on Basilio's face early on. But Basilio forced his way inside throughout the contest, where he raked Robinson with powerful hooks from his chin to his hips. Suffocating Robinson was Basilio's only path to victory, because giving Robinson space to uncork his blindingly fast and powerful combinations was asking to be knocked into another dimension. The last third of the fight was particularly enthralling as both fighters took turns hurting each other while digging deep into their reservoirs of courage to stay on their feet. In the last 30 seconds of the 11th round, Basilio pinned Robinson against the ropes and unloaded over 20 unanswered power punches, which an exhausted Robinson somehow survived. Sugar Ray rebounded in the 12th by hurting Basilio with a series of left hooks and knocking him around the ring. Then, in the 13th, Robinson nailed Basilio with a massive left hook that caused the onion farmer's eyes to roll back in his head. In the end, after the two brave combatants waged war for 15 grueling rounds, Basilio won a split decision, earning his second divisional title in the process. There was no doubt in Basilio's mind that he was the rightful winner despite the split verdict. "Of course I won the fight. I forced the fight, didn't I?," Basilio told the Times Record. "I got in the most punches, didn't I? Then I won it. He's a good fighter, a great fighter. But he didn't worry me at all. I think I outsmarted him." Robinson didn't argue the decision. "There were two judges and a referee. I abide by their decision. I have no squawks," said Robinson to the Times Record. "I don't know whether I'll ever fight again. I had to battle for everything I got in this fight. I'll decide in a few days whether I'll fight Basilio again." 1958 FOTY: Basilio vs. Suger Ray Robinson II Date: March 25, 1958 Location: Chicago, IL Ultimately, Robinson agreed to a rematch with Basilio, which took place six months later at Chicago Stadium in front of almost 18,000 spectators. In the rematch, Robinson was more disciplined in his strategy of keeping Basilio away with his jab, while tying him up in close to prevent him from letting loose with haymakers. The early rounds were evenly contested, with Robinson coming on strong in the third and bloodying Basilio's nose. Basilio rebounded to take the fourth round, and then gave Robinson "such a battering in the next four sessions that it seemed Sugar Ray would be knocked out." But by the sixth round, Basilio's left eye had swollen to the size of a golf ball, which was fitting because Robinson was swinging and landing his two fists on Basilio's face like a driver smacking a ball onto the fairway. According to the Tulsa Tribune, "The fight quickly developed into an ultra-rough match in which each tried to batter the other with forbidden 'rabbit punches' to the back of the head, belt one another when referee Frank Sikora was breaking them, and butt at times with the head." From the 12th through the 15th, Robinson came close to stopping Basilio as he staggered him several times. Even though Basilio withstood another hellish 15 rounds, it was Robinson who walked away with the split decision win and the title. "It was one of my toughest fights. I'm tired, very tired," said Robinson in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Although Basilio gave his best effort, he couldn't replicate his success from their first fight. "I couldn't get my distance right. If you can't get distance, you find yourself off-balance." 1959 FOTY: Basilio vs. Gene Fullmer Date: Aug. 28, 1959 Location: Daly City, CA After losing the title to Robinson in their rematch, Basilio scored wins over Art Aragon and Arley Seifer, which set the stage for another crack at the middleweight title against Utah's Gene Fullmer. Against Basilio, Fullmer put forth one of the best performances of his career as he used his jab to great effect, preventing Basilio from finding his rhythm. And whenever Basilio managed to get inside, Fullmer held his own with excellent counterpunching. One of those brilliant counters came at the end of the eighth round, when Fullmer nailed and staggered Basilio with an overhand right at the bell. In the 10th round, Basilio nailed Fullmer with a left hook-right uppercut combination that briefly stunned the Utah native. But Fullmer stood his ground and returned fire with enough solid blows to keep Basilio honest. That turned out to be Basilio's last stand, because as the fight progressed through the championship rounds, he couldn't keep Fullmer off of him. In the 14th round, Fullmer landed a "right hand to the button and Basilio's legs looked like a marionette with the string suddenly tangled or cut," according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Somehow Basilio stayed on his feet, but after some follow-up punches from Fullmer, the referee intervened and stopped the fight at the request of Basilio's corner. Fullmer achieved an impressive feat in becoming the first fighter to beat Basilio inside the distance. But it was a testament to Basilio's durability that it took until the 75th fight of his career for him to fail to see a fight's final bell. Although Basilio didn't agree with the stoppage, he gave credit to the new champion when he spoke to reporters after the fight. "I don't know what was wrong, I just couldn't get on top," said Basilio in the San Bernardino County Sun. 'But I don't want to take anything away from Fullmer. He's the strongest guy I ever fought." During Basilio's remarkable stretch of five consecutive Fights of the Year, three out of four opponents were fellow Hall of Famers and absurdly tough competition. Those fights proved that it took herculean efforts from some of the greatest ring legends to give Basilio a competitive fight. So if you were unlucky enough to share the ring with "The Upstate Onion Farmer" during the 1950s, you'd better hope that you had your roots firmly planted in the soil — because otherwise, you were getting blown away.
