Australia’s Liam Paro has sensationally accused Paddy Donovan of running – and urged him to “find a set” – following revelations the Irishman still hasn’t signed off on their already announced IBF welterweight title eliminator.
Ring IV: Night of Champions | Sunday 23 Nov from 10am AEDT | Ring IV: Night of Champions takes Riyadh by storm, with WBC light heavyweight king David Benavidez facing Anthony Yarde. Also featured is a WBO welterweight tie between Brian Norman Jr. and Devin Haney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
While it has now been a week since Paro-Donovan was publicly confirmed for the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on January 17, the Aussie says his rival is still to ink his signature onto the official paperwork.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Paro accused the fighting Irishman – who is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s famed Matchroom stable — of having “second thoughts” for what is supposed to be the co-main event of a massive No Limit card being topped by Nikita Tszyu and Michael Zerafa.
The Queenslander also accused Donovan of talking “a load of s***” to media and suggested the 26-year-old could still go “running with his tail between his legs”.
The revelation comes as Paro also doubled down on his own push to chase the biggest names in the welterweight division, including the winner of this Sunday’s Ring IV blockbuster between Devin Haney and Brian Norman Jnr in Saudi Arabia.
While Haney is the slight betting favourite, Paro is backing Norman Jnr to retain his WBO welterweight crown – and potentially via KO.
But before all that, Paro is urging Donovan to sign off on a contract that has been in the Limerick native’s possession “for weeks”.
It comes as the Irishman has also told UK media about how he is looking forward to beating Paro and going straight into a trilogy with IBF welterweight champ Lewis Crocker – who he has lost against in his two most recent outings.
Asked initially about those claims on Friday, Paro responded: “It’s funny Donovan says that. Because if he really is so confident of getting through me, why hasn’t he signed the contract already?”
He still hasn’t signed off on the fight yet?
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“No, he hasn’t,” Paro said. “And I know he’s had the paperwork for weeks.
“So what’s so hard about signing a piece of paper? Especially if I’m just a stepping stone?
“This bloke calls himself a fighter but doesn’t want to sign the contract.
“It’s actually become quite annoying, and I just hope he finds a set and signs.
“Because I’ve seen in his interviews how he thinks he’s going to be the stronger puncher, the bigger guy … but that’s all just a load of s***.
“If he really is so confident, why hasn’t he signed the contract? I’m starting to think he is running with his tail between his legs.”
Announcing the Paro-Donovan bout at a press conference last week, No Limit CEO George Rose said: “There has been an agreement reached on that fight.
“While it hasn’t been officially signed off, everything has been agreed on. A man’s handshake is pretty much as good as a contract. So that’s where we’re at right now. It is agreed. It’s going ahead.”
Yet a week on, and with Donovan still having not committed in writing, Paro fears his rival is having second thoughts.
“Because Paddy knows this is a tougher fight than his past two against Crocker,” he continued. “And that’s now starting to play into his head, the idea that he’ll be staring down three straight losses.
“It’s why he’s having second thoughts.
“We’ve seen him in interviews talking a big game – saying how he will be more powerful, the bigger puncher, how he will bully me.
“But if he did really believe that, he would’ve signed already.
“I signed my paperwork immediately, within seconds of receiving it.
“I know Matchroom can play a few games but he’s the man, he’s the fighter, he is the one signing his name on the dotted line.
“And he doesn’t want to.
“That proves to me he is having second thoughts …”
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Pushed on the fact Donovan has already done a handful of interviews about the showdown, Paro continued: “A lot of people call themselves fighters but, when it comes to the crunch, they don’t do what is required.
“Paddy knows what will be standing in front of him when we fight.
“And he knows I’m his toughest test yet.
“I’ve rained on parades before; just ask Subriel Matias.
“So the fact he is yet to sign, it just proves he doesn’t believe what he’s saying.
“All his talk, it’s for the cameras.
“It’s all about him fluffing himself up to be something he’s not.”
Paro also hit back at Donovan’s claims in a recent interview that he would be the bigger puncher against Paro, who is now campaigning to become a two-division champ after winning, and then losing, the IBF super lightweight title.
“Donovan’s just trying to make himself feel better about what’s coming,” Paro continued.
“The only two times he has fought an undefeated fighter, he’s lost.
“That says something.
“Same as when you look at the caliber of guys he’s been knocking out, no disrespect, but it’s easier to knock out B level fighters, C level fighters, than world class opponents.
“When you look at my resume though, I’ve stopped a lot of world class opponents.
“So again, I don’t really know what he’s going on about.
“I think he’s just trying to build some confidence in himself.”
Elsewhere, Paro is tipping Norman Jnr to defend his WBO welterweight crown against Haney on this Sunday’s hyped Ring IV event that will be shown live on Main Event, Kayo Sports and DAZN.
While Norman Jnr is a slight betting underdog, the Aussie suggested he would win the “50/50 fight” so long as he starts strong early.
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“Look, I’ll edge towards Brian Norman Jnr getting it done,” Paro said.
“Because Norman is a big, power puncher and I do believe he can clip Haney.
“And that’s how he has to win.
“If this one goes to decision it will be Haney, especially if he gets into his groove, uses his jab.
“But for Brian to win, he needs to worry Haney early and hurt him.
“Stamp his authority early in the fight like Ryan Garcia did, put him in his shell.
“We have seen Haney get dropped and I do think Norman can stop him.
“But again, it needs to be early.
“I really think Norman is going to come flying out of the gates, try to surprise him.
“So it’s going to be a good fight.”
Of course, Paro could himself be eventually throwing down with the winner should he continue on his path to claiming Crocker’s IBF welterweight strap.
“Which is definitely what I want,” he said. “And until I become champion, I believe Brian Norman Jnr is the guy at 147.”
In the main event, meanwhile, Paro is tipping David Benavidez to beat Anthony Yarde for the WBC light heavyweight crown.
“I love Benavidez, he’s one of my favourite fighters to watch,” Paro said. “I know he’s usually a lot bigger and now, at light heavyweight, he’s around guys the same size but I do think he should get it done.”