Unsung Australian Liam Paro is confident he can shock the world and tame one of boxing’s biggest beasts Subriel Matias in his home lair.
Queenslander Paro (24-0, 15KOs) will start as the underdog against IBF junior-welterweight champion Matias (20-1, 20KOs) in Manati, Puerto Rico, on Sunday.
Ranked No.5 by the IBF, Paro has the skills and boxing ability to spring a major upset and underlined his quality with eye-caching stoppage wins in his last two fights.
The slick 28-year-old southpaw blasted out highly touted Sydneysider Brock Jarvis inside one round in October 2022 and went on to stop well-regarded American Montana Love in the sixth in San Francisco in December.
An unrelenting pressure fighter, the 32-year-old Matias has shown he can survive early attacks from opponents before using his physicality and strong punching to break them down.
The Puerto Rican was described by promoter Eddie Hearn as the “boogeyman” of the division, but Paro said he was a “million per cent” sure he had the game plan and tools to dethrone the champion.
“I’m feeling good. This is it, this is what dreams are made of … I’m ready to get it on,” Paro told broadcaster DAZN after the weigh-in.
“I’m excited to get in there and share the ring with him. He’s a tremendous champion, but I believe I’ve had the right prep to shock the world.
“We’ve prepped perfect, the right sparring, and I’m ready. This is my time.
“I know what I’m getting into, I’m coming into the lion’s den. Full respect to him, but I know it’s going to get down and dirty.
“This is the biggest test, so I’m ready for anything.”
Matias, who will be making the second defence of the title he won in February 2023, has notched five straight knockouts since his only professional loss, which he subsequently avenged.
He is fighting In his home country for the first time since November 2019, having had his last six bouts in the United States.
“It’s always great to defend your title in front of your people. They know what I’m capable of,” Matias told DAZN.
“I’ve taken the 0s from lots of fighters,” he added, referring to the first professional loss he inflicted on five of his previous opponents.
Hearn praised Paro for taking the fight in the champion’s home country, where he said it was “almost mission impossible”.
“(Paro) has the skill-set to cause (Matias) problems, he’s a crafty southpaw with good feet,” Hearn said.
“He has a good mentality I don’t think he’s going to be overawed by the occasion.”