The Unexpected Toppling of the “Boogeyman”: Australia’s Liam Paro Stuns Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias
In a stunning upset, Australia’s Liam Paro dethroned the formidable Puerto Rican champion Subriel Matias in their IBF junior welterweight title clash on Saturday night. The always pressure-minded Matias (20-2, 20 KOs) was uncharacteristically timid, allowing the elusive Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) to box effectively off the back foot and secure a well-deserved unanimous decision victory via scores of 115-112, 115-112, and 116-111.
“It was quite remarkable – a shock victory,” admitted Matchroom head Eddie Hearn. “I can’t believe what I saw. It’s no secret that Subriel Matias was a massive favorite. We all know that Liam Paro is a world-class fighter, but to come to Puerto Rico and dethrone the champion was a massive ask. Not many expected that tonight.”
Paro, who picked up where he left off from his momentum-building, career-best knockout win against Montana Love in December, was left “speechless” while basking in the unexpected triumph. Matias, 32, had stopped every opponent during his nine-year career coming into the fight, but on this night, Paro’s elusive movement and effective counterpunching proved too much to handle.
“Liam was getting his respect,” Hearn added. “I struggled to give Matias more than three rounds in the whole fight. Liam was outstanding and closed the fight outstandingly well.”
With no rematch clause in the contract, the 28-year-old southpaw Paro can now navigate his career straight into the thick of the talent-rich 140-pound division, which features the likes of Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez Jr., and former undisputed champion Josh Taylor, among others.
“It just completely blows the division apart. Liam Paro is now one of the main men now at 140 pounds,” said Hearn. “[Matchroom] wanted to go to Australia for a big fight for quite some time and now we have the ability to do it. He deserves that homecoming. We can bring a big name to Australia from the division.”
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