Ryan Garcia has made no secret of his grand ambitions to completely dominate and take over the welterweight division. Having captured the WBC world title earlier this year and successfully defended it in impressive fashion, the Californian superstar has firmly established himself as one of the marquee names in the 147-pound weight class. While his primary focus has been locked on securing a massive unification showdown against WBA champion Teofimo Lopez to jump-start his campaign, unexpected roadblocks in the sanctioning landscape have opened the door for alternative routes, with IBF world champion Liam Paro quickly stepping forward to stake his claim.
Garcia’s journey to the pinnacle of the welterweight division reached a dramatic crescendo last month when he stepped into the ring for the maiden defense of his WBC crown. Facing off against domestic rival Conor Benn, Garcia delivered a stunning, explosive performance, ruthlessly halting his opponent in just two rounds. The dominant victory not only solidified his status as a legitimate champion at 147 pounds but also immediately set the wheels in motion for bigger fights. In the immediate aftermath of his victory over Benn, Garcia wasted no time calling for a high-stakes unification showdown against WBA titleholder Teofimo Lopez, a matchup that instantly captured the imagination of boxing fans and media alike.
However, the path to undisputed glory is rarely straightforward in the sport of professional boxing. While both Garcia and Lopez have publicly expressed a strong mutual interest in locking horns in the squared circle, the bureaucratic machinery of the sanctioning bodies intervened. The World Boxing Association (WBA) subsequently ordered Lopez to fulfill his mandatory obligations by facing challenger Jack Catterall next. Unwilling to let a mandatory defense derail his trajectory toward bigger fights, Lopez and his team have recently appealed the WBA’s decision, casting a cloud of uncertainty over when—or even if—a fight between Lopez and Garcia can be materialized in the near future.
With Lopez potentially tied up in mandatory defenses, appeals, and potential promotional standoffs, the welterweight division is moving forward, and IBF world champion Liam Paro is more than willing to capitalize on the opening. Paro, who has his own championship ambitions and momentum to protect, has made it abundantly clear that he is entirely uninterested in sitting on the sidelines waiting for the division’s politics to sort themselves out. Instead, the undefeated Australian champion has outlined an aggressive schedule that could set the stage for a massive world title unification clash against Garcia in the early months of 2027.
According to comments made to Fox Sports, Paro is looking to stay active and sharp by returning to the ring as soon as late November or early December. For his next outing, the IBF titleholder plans to face a top-15 opponent to keep his momentum rolling before turning his full attention toward a blockbuster unification battle against Garcia early next year. Paro recognizes that high-level fighters cannot afford prolonged inactivity if they want to stay relevant at the elite level of the sport, and his proactive approach has immediately positioned him as one of the most viable and dangerous alternatives for Garcia’s next big move.
Paro’s ascent to the IBF welterweight championship has been a journey defined by calculated risks and impressive performances away from traditional boxing strongholds. Since making the decision to move up from the super-lightweight division—where he also held the prestigious IBF world title—Paro has fought exclusively in his native Australia. His transition to the 147-pound weight class began with a bout against Jonathan Navarro at a 144-pound catchweight, which served as a testing ground for his frame in the heavier division. Following that initial test, Paro secured two pivotal decision victories over David Papot and Lewis Crocker. It was his hard-fought win over Crocker that ultimately earned him the coveted IBF welterweight crown, cementing his status as a major player in the division and establishing him as a world champion at two different weights.
Looking ahead to a potential mega-fight against Garcia, Paro revealed a strong desire to bring the matchup Down Under. Hosting a welterweight world title unification fight in Australia would mark a historic milestone, as it would be the first bout of its kind to ever take place on Australian soil. The prospect of bringing a star of Garcia’s magnitude to Australia represents a massive commercial and sporting opportunity for the region. However, Paro is entirely pragmatic about the realities of elite boxing and made it clear that he is not bound by geography when it comes to chasing greatness. If securing the fight requires traveling to the United States, the Australian champion is more than willing to head straight to the bright lights of Las Vegas. Headlining a card in the fight capital of the world is firmly etched on Paro’s career bucket list, and he insists that stepping into hostile territory holds no fear for him, pointing to his past career experiences as proof that he can travel and conquer on foreign soil.
While the prospect of a unification showdown with Garcia is the ultimate prize on the horizon, Paro’s immediate future requires navigating his mandatory obligations. As the IBF champion prepares to close out the year with a stay-busy fight in late November or early December, expectations are high that a defense against Ireland’s undefeated rising contender Paddy Donovan will soon be officially mandated by the sanctioning body. Donovan has been steadily climbing the ranks and represents a significant test for the champion, ensuring that Paro cannot afford to look past his next assignment if he wants to keep his championship belt and his 2027 plans with Garcia intact.
