Liam Paro is to fight Jonathan Navarro at the Convention Centre in Cairns, Australia on June 25.
The former IBF junior-welterweight champion will fight for the first time since sacrificing his title to Richardson Hitchins in December, and for the first time in his home country since his victory over his compatriot Brock Jarvis in 2022.
Paro-Navarro will be supported by the lightweight contest between Liam Wilson, also of Australia, and Argentina’s Aryton Gimenez.
“It’s a real homecoming for me,” the 29-year-old Paro said. “I’ve always wanted to fight back in Queensland – where I grew up, where I first dreamed of becoming a world champion.
“I never got the chance to do that when I held the belt, but that’s about to change. I’ve been chasing fights all over the world for years, but now with [promoters] No Limit behind me, we’re bringing big-time boxing to Queensland. And this fight in Cairns is just the beginning.
“I’m a proud Queenslander, and I plan on putting on a clinic for my people. Jonathan Navarro is tough – he’s 18-1 for a reason – but I belong at the top of this sport, and I’m going to prove that again.
“I want every single one of them – Teofimo Lopez, revenge against Hitchins, all the so-called names in this division.
“This division is wide open – and I’m ready to remind the world exactly who I am.”
Paro won, from Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias, and lost the IBF title while being promoted by Matchroom, who are working alongside Tasman Fighters to expand into Australia, but the fight against the 28-year-old Navarro represents his first since joining No Limit, and the promotional organisation’s George Rose said: “We’re absolutely pumped to bring No Limit Boxing back to Queensland – and this time, all the way to far north Queensland.
“Liam Paro is up there with the very best in the world and we’re stoked to be giving him the homecoming fight in Queensland he really deserved to have when he was world champion. And Liam Wilson has already gone to war twice for a world title on the global stage. To have both of these elite Queenslanders fighting at home, on the same night, in Cairns – it’s something special.
“We’ve taken boxing to every corner of Australia, and now it’s Cairns’ turn. This is going to be an unforgettable event – the type of show that helps inspire the next generation. And we’re just getting started.”