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Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

Pro Boxer Liam Paro on Fighting for a World Title, Redemption & Dealing with Adversity

6/17/20261 hr

Liam Paro is an Australia's leading professional boxer who is fighting for the IBF Welterweight World Title on June 24, and he's never been more ready.

Exclusive to Main Event on Kayo Sports – next Wednesday on the 24th!

Purchase the PPV here**: https://kayosports.com.au/en-AU/welcome/ppv/paro-v-crocker?extcamp=parovcrockerorgsoc-soc-kyo-lnk-kayo-acq-mma-straighttalk&channel=straighttalk&campaign=parovcrocker**

The North Queensland kid who once slept in his car to chase his dream reveals what it really takes to become a world champion.

Liam opens up about what an 11-kilogram weight cut actually does to your body, why moving up to welterweight may be the best decision of his career, and the brutal mental battle that takes place between the ropes that most fans never see.

He also shares the heartbreaking story of losing his best mate in 2015, the promise he made as a 13-year-old sitting on his mum's kitchen bench, and why his late friend's initials have been stitched onto his trunks for every fight since.

We also discuss:

  • How sparring with Jeff Horn's camp before the Manny Pacquiao fight changed everything.
  • The southpaw footwork battle most fans never notice.
  • Why fitness wins fights at the elite level.
  • What your corner is really saying between rounds when your back is against the wall.
  • What's waiting for him on the other side of June 24.

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Clips

Promise To Fallen Friend
Deadly Weight-Cut Reality
Living In His Car
Ready To Die Fighting
Call-Out To Pacquiao
Southpaw Footwork Masterclass

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Mark Bouris· Host0:00

    Liam Parra, welcome to Straight Talk, mate Uh, thank you.

  2. Liam Paro· Guest0:02

    Thanks for having me. It's a true pleasure.

  3. Mark Bouris· Host0:04

    How you feeling in your prep?

  4. Liam Paro· Guest0:05

    Feeling really good.

  5. Mark Bouris· Host0:06

    Yeah You know, um, like I said, can't miss this opportunity, mate.

  6. Liam Paro· Guest0:09

    So yeah, ready. Ready to, uh, make history and hopefully join the likes of the great Jeff Fenech- Yeah ... in the same sentence as two division champions. So yeah, just excited.

  7. Mark Bouris· Host0:17

    You're fighting in a welterweight division, 147 pounds. Is that right?

  8. Liam Paro· Guest0:21

    Correct. Yep.

  9. Mark Bouris· Host0:22

    What, what is that in kilos these days?

  10. Liam Paro· Guest0:23

    Uh, 66.67- 66 point- ... I think, to be exact. Yeah ...

  11. Mark Bouris· Host0:27

    66.67 kilos.

  12. Liam Paro· Guest0:28

    Yep.

  13. Mark Bouris· Host0:29

    For some reason everyone still works in pounds because it's American system. [laughs] But Liam has gone up a weight division, which is not that much really. I mean, there's only a couple of pounds.

  14. Liam Paro· Guest0:36

    Yeah It's not a big deal.

  15. Mark Bouris· Host0:37

    'Cause normally you're in the, uh, super lightweight division. Traditionally, you've been in super light. That was your last world title.

  16. Liam Paro· Guest0:43

    Correct. Yeah.

  17. Mark Bouris· Host0:44

    It... Was it super lightweight?

  18. Liam Paro· Guest0:45

    Super lightweight, yeah.

  19. Mark Bouris· Host0:46

    Super lightweight, yeah 140 pounds.

  20. Liam Paro· Guest0:47

    Yep.

  21. Mark Bouris· Host0:47

    Seven pounds lighter. Let's take you outside of training.

  22. Liam Paro· Guest0:50

    Yep What was you normally walking around at? Look, now, getting a bit older, just touched 30, I'm, uh, about 78, 79 kilos my body will naturally get to.

  23. Mark Bouris· Host0:58

    Normally. Yeah.

  24. Liam Paro· Guest0:59

    Normally. Yeah.

  25. Mark Bouris· Host0:59

    Yeah When I'm, uh, keeping regularly fit but not camp mode.

  26. Liam Paro· Guest1:02

    So- Yeah ... that was a big enough indication, you know. Um, yeah, look, I've, I've been a 140 pounder for my whole career. I started professional at 18 years old, and it's only two fights ago I, I decided to go up after I lost the title to Richardson Hitchins. Um, look, no excuses. I felt good on the night, but the last few fights the weight cut was starting to get pretty brutal. And, um, like I said, when I was naturally getting over the 73 mark, I was saying, "Hang on, it's time to let the body do its thing

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