Liam Paro refuses to 'chase ghosts' amid talks of George Kambosos fight

Liam Paro will fight on home soil for the first time in nearly three years when he takes on American Jonathan Navarro in Cairns on Wednesday night.

Yet at Tuesday's weigh-in, talk about a potential grudge match against fellow Australian George Kambosos wouldn't go away.

Paro will join two-time world title challenger Liam Wilson on the card (15-3), who will feature against Argentinian super featherweight Ayrton Gimenez (22-1).

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The former IBF champion told Wide World of Sports earlier this month that Kambosos would fare poorly against New Yorker Richardson Hitchins, saying the Sydney fighter may not last the distance.

His prediction was proven correct with Hitchins taking the fight by stoppage in the eighth round in his first defence. Paro told reporters a fight with Kambosos is unlikely, because the Sydney fighter has stated he won't fight local boxers.

The Mackay product (18-1) said he'd rather put the wins on the board and set up a rematch against Hitchins, after going down via split decision.

"I copped heat for saying George would lose, but I stand by it," Paro said.

"I just never thought Kambosos was world class. That's not unpatriotic. It's just my opinion as someone who knows what that level really looks like.

"There are levels to this game and I've shared the ring with the elite and I call it how I see it."

This will be Paro's first fight under promoter No Limit after splitting with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom.

He'll get a chance to headline a card in his home state after being forced to defend his world title in Puerto Rico.

Paro upset Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico to win the IBF's super lightweight title last June, but when a bout with Kambosos Jr did not get over the line, he was forced to return there and defend his belt against Hitchins in December.

Kambosos has been on a slide since beating Teofimo Lopez in 2021 but has retained a top-four IBF ranking alongside Paro, who is also well positioned for shots at the WBC and WBO belts.

Most in the boxing world believe a bout with Kambosos will eventually happen, yet Paro is not convinced.

"I doubt it happens," Paro said of fighting his countryman.

"I think ego gets in the way. He's made it clear he won't fight another Aussie, which says a lot.

"But if we're both seen as one and two in the country, there's only one way to settle it.

"If it ever makes sense, I'm all in. I'll fight anyone, anywhere, but I won't chase ghosts."

Paro is not looking past Navarro on Wednesday night and says it's an important step in his boxing journey.

He has been around the world earning his bones on the professional level and was hard done by in the eyes of many, having to make his first title defence in Puerto Rico.

In joining No Limit, Paro can make a name for himself in the domestic market, make some money and then spread his wings again and try and snare another world title.

"I've got a new chapter now to be able to do that finally back here, anyone that knows me, I've been screaming for the big fights for years," he told WWOS recently.

"It's the way the cookie crumbled, and now I got the opportunity from No Limit and the Rose boys, to become a household name in Australia.

"Anyone who knows me knows I'm a proud Aussie, and I want to be a household name here and now we've we've got the opportunity.

"I'm excited to kickstart it with a good hard fight in Navarro and hopefully, God willing, get a world title in Australia at the tail end of the year."

Paro's last win in Australia was a dominant first-round stoppage of Brock Jarvis in 2022.