Liam Paro is taking his next chapter up a division and onto a tennis court. The former IBF junior welterweight titlist Liam Paro (26-1, 16 KOs) faces unbeaten French southpaw David Papot (30-0-1, 5 KOs) on September 18 in Brisbane, headlining the first boxing show at the city’s Pat Rafter Arena under the No Limit banner.
Paro, 28, moves to welterweight after outpointing Jonathan Navarro in June and a whirlwind year that saw him upset Subriel Matías for the 140lbs title in 2024 before losing it to Richardson Hitchins in his first defense. “I’ve been to the top before… this time it’s about becoming the name people talk about for years,” Paro said. “Papot is tough, seasoned and coming here to win - but I’ve sacrificed too much to let this slip.”
Watch Paro vs. Hitchins highlights: Watch
Papot arrives as a slick, risk-averse puzzle: an unbeaten technician who has boxed outside France just once (a 12-round draw with James McGirt Jr. in 2019). With Paro debuting at 147, the matchup pits proven top-end experience against an undefeated rhythm fighter - volume and angles versus timing and economy.
No Limit CEO George Rose billed the bout as a “massive world title eliminator” at Paro’s new weight and promised a charged Queensland crowd. Former world title challenger Liam Wilson also returns on the card, adding local firepower to a night that aims to turn a tennis showpiece into a fight-night fixture.
Fight card:
▪️Liam Paro vs. David Papot, 12 rounds, IBF welterweight title eliminator
▪️Liam Wilson vs. TBA, 10 rounds, junior lightweight
