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Garcia dismissed Paro\u2019s chances of holding onto the IBF welterweight crown during an interview on Wednesday in which he mapped out his own path towards becoming undisputed champion at 147 pounds.<\/p>\n
The American, who currently holds the WBC strap and is preparing to defend it against Conor Benn on September 12, said his plan was to knock out newly crowned WBA champion Teofimo Lopez before facing WBO titleholder Devin Haney for all the marbles.<\/p>\n
When Paro\u2019s name was raised, Garcia suggested the Aussie was deliberately chasing Lopez because he viewed him as the easier bloke to beat.<\/p>\n
Liam Paro and Ryan GarciaSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
\u201cKnock out Teofimo,\u201d Garcia told Boxing Scene<\/a> when asked what his road to undisputed looked like.<\/p>\n \u201cBeat him. And then set up an undisputed against Devin Haney.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Devin\u2019s not going to lose to Liam Paro. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think Liam Paro wants to fight Devin Haney. He wants to fight Teofimo. He feels like he has a better chance to beat Teofimo.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why he wants to fight Teofimo.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Liam Paro is just borrowing that belt right now. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s renting.<\/p>\n \u201cAny of us are going to take that s**t. I\u2019m going to be real with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Paro quickly caught wind of the comments and fired back on social media, reminding Garcia of his shock defeat to Rolando \u2018Rolly\u2019 Romero before challenging the American to a unification showdown.<\/p>\n \u201c@RyanGarcia running his mouth about me being easy work is rich coming from a man who got pumped by Rolly Romero,\u201d Paro wrote on X.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m so easy, let\u2019s unify next! Come get it, bitch!\u201d<\/p>\n Garcia suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Romero in New York last year before rebounding to defeat Mario Barrios and capture the WBC welterweight crown.<\/p>\n He will now put that title on the line against Benn later this month, with the winner likely to find themselves at the centre of the race to become the division\u2019s undisputed champion.<\/p>\n Paro, meanwhile, became a two-division world champion when he defeated Lewis Crocker in Brisbane in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Queensland southpaw immediately made it clear he wanted the biggest fights available and has been particularly vocal about facing Lopez, who captured Romero\u2019s WBA crown with a victory in Las Vegas last month.<\/p>\n \u201cI want Lopez next\u2026 He\u2019s got something I want,\u201d Paro told The Punch Podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI messaged everyone from No Limit and Ace and said get me him next. I\u2019ve got him covered and I truly believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n Lopez also nominated Paro as one of his preferred opponents after the fight, placing the Australian firmly in the middle of a fascinating battle for control of the welterweight division.<\/p>\n And Paro may not have to wait long to reveal his next move, teasing an imminent announcement on social media on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n \u201cFight news dropping soon,\u201d Paro wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n MORE BOXING:<\/p>\n \u2018Gotta score those shots\u2019: Aussie great Danny Green\u2019s verdict after rescoring controversial Tszyu draw<\/a><\/p>\n