Just days after landing on Paro’s turf, Papot labelled the former world champion “nothing special” after watching some of his highlights.
The sledge lit a fire under Paro, who left his last opponent, Johnathan Navarro pouring blood from a broken nose in Cairns.
And with an IBF world title fight against Lewis Crocker on the line for the winner of this Thursday’s PPV showdown at Pat Rafter Arena, proud Queenslander Paro wants to inflict similar damage on Papot.
“We’ll see if he thinks I’m ‘nothing special’ after I crack him a few times in the mouth,” Paro told Code Sports. “I love the confidence though, it makes for a better fight.
“But he will realise pretty fast that there’s levels to this.
“He’s had some tough opponents, but they’ve all been fringe opponents.
“I’m at the elite level, and I’ve got some traps for him.”
Papot didn’t back down from his bold statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“I saw a video of Liam knocking out his opponent in his last fight,” the 30-0-1 fighter said. “It’s nothing special.
“I started boxing when I was five. Now I’m 34.
“I know my stuff. To see a fighter in a video doing a knockout is nothing special.”
One of this country’s most fearsome knockout artists, Paro was a wrecking machine at super-lightweight, but is adamant he’s gone to another level following his move to welterweight earlier this year.
“Oh, man, I just feel so bloody good,” he told Code Sports. “The difference is massive, and the power and the explosiveness is all coming together.
“I’m gonna be very dangerous – on fight night, it’s gonna be a demolition.”
A win this Thursday could see Paro propelled towards an IBF welterweight world title showdown against Crocker, who won a bruising battle with fellow Irishman Paddy Donovan last weekend.
“I can beat him in every single aspect,” Paro said of Crocker. “I’ve got the artillery to beat him.
“He’s the champion for a reason, but keep that belt warm, because I’m coming.”
Meanwhile, it’s been 48 hours from hell for promoter No Limit with the undercard rocked by a series of late-notice pull outs and hastily made replacements.
Brock Jarvis’ hopes of hijacking Michael Zerafa’s plans of fighting Nikita Tszyu fell apart with the Sydney fighter forced out with a shoulder injury.
His scheduled opponent, Ken Aitken, now takes on Sonny Knight.
A good performance could have seen Jarvis catapulted into a pay-per-view blockbuster against Tszyu later in the year.
“Brock was hoping it wasn’t as bad as it was, and he’s a tough guy,” No Limit boss George Rose told Code Sports. “He’s thinking it’s just a bit of soreness, but now he has to get rushed into surgery.
“I’m shattered for him because he’s done so much to get back to where he’s at.”
Tokyo Olympian Paulo Aokuso lost his second opponent in as many weeks as Shukrat Abdullaev wasn’t allowed to leave his native Uzbekistan.
“I don’t know why, and I don’t want to speculate,” Rose joked when asked why he wasn’t allowed to leave the country. “I know my lane and I’m sticking to it.”
Aokuso was left to attempt some last-minute negotiations with former middleweight contender Ben Hussain just moments before Tuesday’s press conference was due to kick off in Brisbane.
The always entertaining Hussain retired from the sport earlier this year, but couldn’t stay away for long and is already planning a comeback next month.
Hussain attended the press conference to call out Jarvis, but ended up in conversation with former sparring partner Aokuso for a late-notice fight instead.
The pair spoke several times over the course of an hour, but Aokuso was understandably concerned about Hussain’s weight.
“I’d love to see Paulo in ring,” Rose said. “Benny’s scheduled to fight in a couple of weeks, so he’s ready and that’s why he’s confident to go.
“Of all the possible replacements, this is one I’m actually curious to see. People know Ben Hussain.
“They know what he’s done in the ring and it would make for an entertaining fight.”
Originally published as ‘Crack him in the mouth a few times’: Paro fires back at cocky French opponent’s wild sledge