Liam Paro narrowly decisions Lewis Crocker to become IBF welterweight champion

Liam Paro defeats Lewis Crocker to become two-weight world champion

Auistralian Liam Paro (28-1, 16 KOs) narrowly decisioned Lewis Crocker (22-1, 11 KOs) to become the new IBF world welterweight champion.

The former IBF super-lightweight world champion won the fight unanimously but only by 115-113 on all three scorcards in Queensland on Wednesday, June 24.

There were wins for heavyweight Demsey McKean, Brisbane's Vegas Larfield and unbeaten cruiserweight Luke Modini.

'The Croc' was Down Under defending his IBF belt for the first time since winning it against bitter rival Paddy Donovan in 2025.

The Irishman started fast, putting on pressure and throwing big bombs in the opening rounds, backing the local fighter up, who popped out his southpaw jab and begun to throw back some big uppercuts and backhands.

The pace slowed around the middle rounds, the pressure from Crocker reduced, allowing Paro to pick his shots and operate with room. Paro was putting plenty of combinations together while Crocker frustratingly looked to land big. In the last minute of the fifth, Crocker landed a big backhand right to snap Paro's head back, who had been dominating the round.

Crocker's big left hooks over the top mostly missed and Paro peppered the champ with quick jabs and one-twos copiously. All this time, the numbers were just stacking up in the challenger's favour. Paro was just too busy, Crocker not successful enough landing his shots.

Paro was cornered in the 10th and tucked up and moved sensibly, but his head came in and caught Crocker with a butt, which he briefly complained about then carried on quickly, but it looked like Paro got away with a blatant use of head there.

Crocker came out like a man possessed in the 12th round, knowing the fight was beyond him, desperate for a knockout, but a cut and bloodied Paro moved, held, frustrated to the final bell to become a two-weight world champion in front of his home fans.