Lewis Crocker vs Liam Paro Tips & Betting Preview - Paro to claim IBF world title in Queensland showdown

Leigh Copson

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Last updated: Mon 22 Jun 2026 14:34

Leigh Copson 22 Jun 2026

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Liam Paro favored to win IBF welterweight title by decision
Lewis Crocker remains undefeated and has never been knocked out
Paro's tactical style expected to out-point Crocker's power

Expired

Liam Paro (Getty Images)

Liam Crocker vs Liam Paro Verdict
Lewis Crocker - 22-0 Record
Liam Paro - 27-1 Record

Liam Crocker vs Liam Paro Verdict

Liam Paro takes on Liam Crocker in a an IBF welterweight world title and the Aussie is tipped to win by decision in Brisbane.

Although Crocker packs a punch, southpaw Paro does an outstanding job of controlling distance and create angles to land counter punches - and that is backed to be the difference in Queensland.

3 of Liam Paro’s last 4 fights have gone the distance
Lewis Crocker has never been knocked out in his career
Lewis Crocker’s only previous world title fight went the distance

Lewis Crocker - 22-0 Record

Lewis Crocker is the defending IBF welterweight world champion with a professional record of 22-0 (11 KOs).

Crocker made his professional debut in March 2017 and climbed the ladder fighting almost exclusively in his native Northern Ireland.

In August 2020 he claimed his first title as he knocked out Louis Greene in the seventh round to claim the vacant WBO European welterweight title, and he went on to defend it twice.

The 29-year-old beat Deniz Ilbay on points in his first defence, before knocking out Artem Haroyan in the seventh round in the seventh round in November 2021.

Crocker surrendered the championship after that as he spent 2022 on the sidelines, but he did return in 2023 and reeled off four consecutive wins.

He followed up a second-round knockout of Joel Julio with a decision win over Octavian Gratii, before backing up a fourth-round stoppage of Greyvin Mendoza with a points success against Tyrone McKenna.

2024 saw him stop Jose Felix Jr in five and beat Conah Walker via unanimous decision, and he then secured his first world title fight with a victory against Paddy Donovan.

The two men fought for the vacant IBF championship in September of last year, and Crocket got the job done as he edged a split decision.

Liam Paro - 27-1 Record

Liam Paro is a former IBF welterweight world champion with a professional record of 27-1 (16 KOs).

Paro entered the professional ranks in March 2016 and fought his way into contention for minor regional titles over the first few years, claiming the Australasian and WBO Youth light-welterweight titles in 2018.

The COVID pandemic slowed his rise up the ladder in 2020 as he fought just once, knocking out James Chereji in the eighth round, but he soon gathered momentum.

The 30-year-old Australian fought three times in 2021, following up a seventh-round knockout of Terry Tzouramanis with decision victories over Steve Gago and Yomar Alamo.

Paro then knocked out Brock Jarvis in his only outing of 2022, before earning himself a world title fight when he stopped Montana Love in the sixth in 2023.

He finally fought for a world championship in June of 2024, and successfully dethroned Subriel Matias with a unanimous decision win.

His reign proved to be brief though, as later that year he suffered a split decision defeat at the hands of Richardson Hitchins.

Paro rebounded in 2025 with back-to-back stoppage wins – he stopped Jonathan Navarro in the fifth round before out-pointing David Papot over 12 rounds.

Verdict

Lewis Crocker v Liam Paro

This clash of styles plays perfectly into southpaw Liam Paro’s hands. He can out-point Lewis Crocker over 12 rounds to walk away with the IBF welterweight world title.