Liam Paro vs David Papot Preview September 18th, 2025
Former IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Liam Paro of Australia returns to the ring this Thursday, September 18th to take on unbeaten David Papot of France. The 12-round welterweight tilt from Brisbane, Australia can be seen live down under on and Kayo Sports and is being billed as an IBF Welterweight elimination bout. Paro lost his title last December 7th when he dropped a split decision to Richardson Hitchins in Puerto Rico. Paro had won the belt in June when he upset Subriel Matias via a unanimous decision. Paro earned his title shot by halting Montana Love in the sixth round in December, 2023 to retain the WBO Global Junior Welterweight Belt. His last outing came in June when he stopped Jonathan Navarro after five rounds. Papot last saw action in November when he halted Josh Wagner in the seventh round to defend his WBO Global Welterweight Belt and win the IBF International version.
Paro vs Papot Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- David Papot +700
- Liam Parro -1250
My Pick
The 29-year-old Paro is a southpaw who climbs through the ropes with a fine mark of 26-1 with 16 Ko’s and has fought 152 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016. He gave up rugby at the age of 13 to take up boxing and also had a pretty good amateur career as he won the Australian Youth National Championships in 2013 in the 140 lb division. Since turning pro he has also captured the vacant Australian, the vacant WBO Youth, the vacant WBO Global and the vacant IBF International Super Lightweight Belts.
He measures just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 71-inch reach and as far as power is concerned, 61.5 per cent of Paro’s wins have come by way of stoppage but has gone distance in seven of his last 12 fights. He took a step up in class against Montana Love in December, 2023 when he boxed for just the second time outside of Australia with his previous best wins coming over Brock Jarvis, Jose Aubel, Robert Tlatlik, Faith Keles, James Chereji, Steve Gago and Yomar Alamo. He upset Subriel Matias with a unanimous decision on the road but his reign as world champion didn’t last long as Richardson Hitchins took the title from him by split decision in his first defence.
Papot is 34 years old and is also a southpaw. He makes the ring walk with a near-perfect mark of 30-0-1 with just 5 Ko’s to his name. He has 212 rounds of experience under his belt since making his pro debut in 2013. As an amateur he reached semifinals of the 2013 and 2010 French National Championships. Unfortunately there is no height and reach information on Papot so we don’t know how he stacks up size-wise against Paro. We do know how he measures up against Paro when it comes to power though.
He’s at a great disadvantage in this department as just 16.7 per cent of Papot’s victories have come by stoppage. He did halt his last opponent however but stopped just one of his previous 13 foes. Papot has fought outside of France just once and that came back in 2019 when be battled to a 12-round draw with James McGirt in a shot at the vacant WBO International Middleweight Title. Papot won the vacant French Super Welterweight Belt in 2017 and captured the vacant IBA World Super Welterweight Title in 2021. He then added the vacant Global Welterweight belt in April, 2024.
Prediction…
Paro pulled off a minor upset over Montana Love and then beat Subriel Matias in a major upset right in Matias’ own backyard in Puerto Rico. He also dropped a controversial decision to Richardson Hitchins to prove to the world that he’s a top-notch boxer. He doesn’t really own one-punch knockout power but has enough mustard on his punches to cause some damage. Papot obviously has something going for him as he’s never lost in 31 pro fights. He lacks power though and has never met a legitimate contender so is taking a step up in class here. He’s fighting outside of France for just the second time after battling to a draw on his first road trip in America. If Paro can replicate his performances against Love, Matias and Hitchins then he shouldn’t really have a problem beating the 34-year-old Papot at home, especially with his opponent’s lack of power to keep him at bay.
Paro is a class above Papot at this stage of their careers.
Play: Paro -1250 @ BetOnline.ag
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David Papot betting • Liam Paro betting