Liam Paro Upsets IBF Champion Matias

The fight took place in Manatí, Puerto Rico, the champion's home turf, where a raucous crowd gathered to watch one of the most feared men in boxing. Liam Paro, a significant betting underdog, stepped into the lion's den to challenge for the IBF super lightweight title. Subriel Matias entered the ring with a terrifying reputation, holding a perfect knockout ratio with all 20 of his professional victories coming by way of stoppage. His relentless pressure and brutal body attacks had made multiple opponents quit on their stools, earning him the moniker of the division's "boogeyman." The challenger from Queensland, Australia, Liam "The Prodigy" Paro, built his undefeated record primarily in his home country before making his international debut in 2021. His most significant victory leading up to the title shot was a sixth-round knockout of Montana Love in December 2023. Paro executed a strategic masterclass, using high-volume punching, intelligent movement, and clinching to neutralize Matias's offense. The champion struggled to land his signature power shots effectively, and for only the second time in his career, was taken the full 12 rounds; he has lost both fights that have gone to a decision. The judges' scorecards confirmed Paro's dominance, awarding him a clear unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 115-112, and 116-111. The victory was so comprehensive that it overcame a controversial point deduction in the seventh round from referee Luis Pabon for holding, a call that was widely criticized by commentators.