According to reporting from sources close to the situation, including insider details shared by Mike Coppinger, former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney is officially lined up for his debut appearance under his newly minted promotional and broadcast agreement with DAZN. The high-stakes showdown is scheduled to take place on December 19 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
For his return to the ring, Haney will face IBF welterweight titleholder Liam Paro in a significant two-belt unification fight. At stake will be Haney’s WBO welterweight championship alongside Paro’s IBF strap, adding yet another layer of prestige and divisional dominance to a packed winter boxing calendar.
The matchup marks a major milestone for the 27-year-old Haney, who has steadily worked to cement his legacy across multiple weight classes. This upcoming December engagement will have Haney stepping back under the bright lights just over a year removed from his last competitive outing. In that previous bout, Haney secured a hard-fought decision victory over Brian Norman, a performance that earned him the WBO welterweight title and firmly established his presence and championship aspirations within the 147-pound weight division.
In the period following his victory over Norman, Haney’s team actively explored various high-profile matchups against some of the most elite fighters in the sport. However, those potential negotiations ultimately stalled or fell apart due to a variety of logistical hurdles, promotional roadblocks, and scheduling conflicts. Most notably, recent heavy discussions regarding a highly anticipated blockbuster showdown against rival star Shakur Stevenson dissolved before coming to fruition, leaving fans and analysts waiting to see who would ultimately step up to share the canvas with Haney next.
Now, with the DAZN partnership firmly in place and an official date and venue locked down, Haney has his sights set squarely on Australia’s Liam Paro. At 30 years of age, Paro enters this championship unification bout riding the momentum of a career-defining victory. In June, Paro put on a tactical masterclass to secure a decision win over Lewis Crocker, capturing the IBF welterweight title in the process and proving his mettle at the world-class level.
Despite his impressive resume, undefeated pedigree, and championship status, Paro will undoubtedly walk into the Chase Center as a considerable underdog against Haney. Boxing analysts and oddsmakers are expected to heavily favor Haney given his exceptional technical mastery, high-level amateur background, and proven track record of defeating elite opposition on the sport’s biggest stages.
For Haney, this December 19 clash represents much more than a routine title defense. It serves as a crucial stepping stone on his overarching journey toward capturing all the major world titles and establishing himself as the undisputed king of the welterweight division. By adding Paro’s IBF belt to his collection, Haney would take a massive leap forward in his quest for total divisional supremacy at 147 pounds, further solidifying his reputation as one of the defining pound-for-pound talents of his generation. Meanwhile, Liam Paro will travel to San Francisco with everything to gain, looking to pull off a monumental upset on away soil and derail Haney’s undisputed ambitions while unifying the division under his own name.
