Time: Main card begins 7:00 PM AEST (5:00 AM ET / 10:00 AM BST). Main event ring walks expected ~10:00 PM AEST.
Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, Australia (Capacity: ~5,500)
Broadcast: Main Event PPV (Foxtel/Kayo Sports in Australia).
Injury Report
Liam Paro (Australia, 27–1, 16 KOs)
Entered the fight healthy, but sustained a severe right eye injury mid-bout (swelling and vision impairment).
David Papot (France, 30–1–1, 5 KOs)
No reported injuries pre-fight; fought at full strength.
Fighter Matchups
Liam Paro
Age: 29 Height: 5’8” Stance: Southpaw
Style: Technical boxer-puncher, high output, disciplined jab.
Strengths: World-level experience, durability, composure under pressure.
Weaknesses: Can be drawn into exchanges, vulnerable to swelling/cuts.
David Papot
Age: 34 Height: 5’9” Stance: Southpaw
Style: Volume puncher, tactical, durable.
Strengths: Undefeated before this fight, strong fundamentals, stamina.
Weaknesses: Low KO ratio (just 5 stoppages in 30 wins), lacks fight-ending power.
Recent Form
Liam Paro
W – UD vs. David Papot (Sept 2025, IBF eliminator)
W – TKO vs. Jonathan Navarro (June 2025)
L – SD vs. Richardson Hitchins (Dec 2024, lost IBF 140lb title)
W – UD vs. Subriel Matias (June 2024, won IBF 140lb title)
David Papot
L – UD vs. Liam Paro (Sept 2025, first career defeat)
W – TKO vs. Josh Wagner (2024)
W – UD vs. Bilel Jkitou (2023)
D – SD vs. James McGirt Jr. (2019, only career draw)
Fight History & Context
Paro, a former IBF super lightweight champion, moved up to welterweight for this eliminator.
Papot entered undefeated (30–0–1) and ranked IBF #8, while Paro was IBF #7.
The winner was guaranteed a shot at newly crowned IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker.
Paro overcame a horrific eye injury in round 4 to win a unanimous decision (117–111, 116–112 x2).
Betting Trends
Paro has gone the distance in 4 of his last 6 wins.
Paro is 2–1 in world title fights since 2024.
Papot had never been stopped before this fight; his style leans to decisions.
Overs (fight to go the distance) have cashed in 7 of Papot’s last 8 bouts.
FIGHT ODDS
Liam Paro – 350
David Papot + 310
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, September 17, 2025
