Liam Paro Beating Devin Haney Would Be Shocking, Says Eddie Hearn

Talks are currently underway for a potential welterweight title unification between Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) and Liam Paro (28-1, 16 KOs). With negotiations in full swing for a late 2026 fight night, promoter Eddie Hearn has only one thing in mind: it would be a rude wake-up call if Paro ends up winning.

Talking to the Punch Podcast, Hearn revealed why he had no qualms about picking Haney over Paro.

“You make Devin a very, very big favorite. Liam’s a great fighter, no disrespect. But Devin is a very, very, very good, accomplished fighter with lots of experience,” he said. “Liam would be in the fight, but I would be shocked if he was to win that fight. He doesn’t have the power to hurt Devin, not going to outbox him, as good a boxer as Liam is. Do you know what I mean?”

But why would Hearn find this shocking? The reasoning is mainly stylistic; Hearn likely sees Haney’s tango of the fists and ability to control distance as the tools that can neutralize Paro’s pressure and awkward southpaw style. The latter is dangerous because he is unpredictable and willing to fight at an uncomfortable pace, but Haney is generally better at making opponents fight his fight.

Moreover, ‘The Dream’ has spent years facing elite opposition and has had to deal with different styles, whereas Paro, despite the impressive victory over Subriel Matías, has considerably less experience against fighters with Haney’s combination of skills.

Hearn believes that this gargantuan mountain in front of Paro is the reason why he is looking for a major purse to make the fight happen.

“That’s probably why he’s after all these millions to make the fight because it’s likely he’ll lose and then he’s beltless,” Hearn said. “The risk has got to be worth the reward. So that’s how the game works.”

“I’m Just Skeptical”

Another name making the rounds during the negotiations is Jack Catterall. Hearn, however, feels like Catterall’s name was just brought into the mix to compel Paro to agree to a lower purse.

“We’re not getting too excited because there’s a chance that we could have been used as a kind of a hurry-up. Give it the old ask Eddie Hearn for an offer because he’ll probably tell the media, and then Liam Paro will take the fight for cheaper. Do you know what I mean? I’m just skeptical, but listen, we’re ready,” he said. “We said that we’ve come back, we went back to Bill Haney, went back to DAZN and said we’re ready to take that fight. So we’re waiting to hear.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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