Via Sam Volz: The WBO has ordered undefeated No 2 Arnold Barboza Jr and No 3 Liam Paro to begin negotiations to contest the 140 lb belt to determine the mandatory challenger for the winner of the June 10 match between the US and the US. champion Josh Taylor and challenger Teofimo Lopez.
Barboza Jr vs. Paro will be an interesting fight as long as it lasts. 26-year-old men’s tennis player Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) recently looked impressive when he stopped fellow Aussie Brock Jarvis in the first round last October.
If Barboza or Paro opt out, WBO will move down the top 10 and fight #4 Jose Ramirez. I don’t understand why 31-year-old Barboza or Paro would decide not to participate in the 140 lb WBO title elimination because either of them would cause problems for Taylor or Teofimo.
Jarvis, a massive boxer with a fighting style similar to that of former lightweight champion Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini, was knocked down by Paro, who repeatedly knocked with his left hand in the lead to secure the knockout. next.
The way Paro confronts Jarvis, he will become a minor opponent against Barboza. In Barboza’s final game, he started quickly against Jose Pedraza and looked like a world champion for the first six innings, but then he completely ran out of energy in the last four and almost took the lead with a unanimous decision in 10 tight innings.
Suffice it to say that if Barboza attacks Paro, he will be knocked down because this guy has more power than Pedraza, and he will deal damage with his straight left hand.
Given Teofimo’s lack of interest in facing Barboza (28-0.10 KOs) in the past, he could quickly lose the 140 lb WBO belt if he defeats.
Barboza has a lot of talent, but he’s not a great puncher, and as we saw in the match against Pedraza, he has serious fitness problems that could come up against Paro. This is not someone Barboza can afford to go up against as Paro is exceptionally precise with his left hand, and he will get the job done.
Top ranked are hoping Barboza Jr will win as they promote him. If Barboza wins, they’ll have an interesting internal fight as he battles winner Taylor versus Teofimo.
Again, if Teofimo wins against Taylor, the odds are 50-50 if he holds the WBO belt if Barboza is his must-match. Teofimo could see something in Barboza’s fighting style that made him want nothing to do with him.
