Liam Paro and Lewis Crocker turned up the heat ahead of their blockbuster world title showdown this week, with doubts being raised about the champion’s confidence.
Paro and Crocker fronted the media this week ahead of Wednesday night’s highly anticipated world-title fight at Pat Rafter Arena.
Paro v Crocker | Wednesday June 24 from 7pm AEST | Liam Paro gets his long awaited title shot against IBF welterweight champion, Lewis Crocker plus Nelson Asofa-Solomona vs George Burgess. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Paro is chasing a second world title in a second weight division, while Crocker arrives undefeated and determined to silence a rowdy Queensland crowd and make a successful defence of his crown.
Somewhat unusually, the hard-punching Northern Irishman believes he is the underdog.
“If you have the belt, you hold your chin high,” said Paro.
“When you say you’re the underdog, it shows you’ve got doubts…
“I’ve got the championship mindship.”
Crocker explained that he was just telling it like it is.
“It’s just a fact,” he said.
“Nobody here thinks I’m going to win. That’s where the underdog thing comes from.
“I don’t know why people are making a big deal of it.”
Lewis Crocker and Liam ParoSource: FOX SPORTS
When Aussie boxing legend Danny Green questioned why he didn’t seem to have the “junkyard mentality”, Crocker was blunt.
“I’m not fighting in an hour,” he said.
“I’m fighting on Wednesday night. That’s when that (junkyard mentality) will come.”
Green said it was “odd” that the champ had taken the underdog role, and wondered if there was more to it.
“It could be a ploy to make him (Paro) more complacent, he may be foxing him,” he said.
“He’s got the goods… he should be bearing down on Liam Paro.”
Promoter George Rose was firm about who he believed the underdog in fact was.
“Crocker’s a well-deserved champion and it’s a pleasure to have him here,” said Rose.
“But there’s no question who the favourite is. He’s the world champion. He comes out here with everything in his favour.
“Paro is definitely the underdog here… but while he might be an underdog, he’ll be leaving with that belt.”
Yet despite the magnitude of the world-title fight, it quickly became clear the more pointed exchanges would come from elsewhere on the card.
Enter Nelson Asofa-Solomona and George Burgess.
NAS also questioned Burgess’ confidence coming into his first pro fight, saying he has shown him nothing so far that worries him.
“It’s going to be another demolition job,” he said.
Asofa-Solomona had previously questioned if his rival would even show up for the fight.
“I’m confident he’ll turn up now, but will Russell Crowe and Chris Hemsworth be there?” he joked.
Burgess didn’t see the humour in it.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s just me and you in the ring that’s all I care about,” he said.
“Maybe he was hoping I didn’t make it. Unfortunately here I am.
“I’m ready for battle.”
Asofa-Solomona wasn’t rattled.
“He’s going to see my power on Wednesday,” he explained.
“He’s seen the highlight reels — he’s now going to be a part of it.”
Burgess left him with a parting shot.
“Watch out Nasty!” he said.
“Get those hands up, brother.”
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Rose said that whatever happens, the heavyweight showdown will be a fun – and possibly quick – fight.
“Nelson has been living up to what to expect of a man of that size. He’s been delivering in the ring,” Rose said.
“I found someone just as big as him. George Burgess is a big human. I faced both on the footy field… They are scary on the footy field and even scarier in the ring…
“That’ll be one that doesn’t last too long.”