S³ | Sweet Science Sports
Devin Haney and Liam Paro have spent enough time in the ring together to know what the other brings to the table.
Nearly 100 rounds of sparring have given both champions a level of familiarity that most opponents never experience before fight night.
But that was four years ago.
On December 19, the two will meet at Chase Center in San Francisco with the WBO and IBF welterweight championships on the line.
Haney believes he's levels above Paro. The Australian champion believes Haney is underestimating how much he's improved.
Both have accomplished enough to make their arguments worth listening to.
Haney Has the Stronger Résumé
Haney enters the fight undefeated at 33-0 with 15 knockouts. The three-division champion has established himself against some of boxing's most accomplished names.
His victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko remains one of the most significant wins of his career, even with the controversy surrounding the decision.
His two victories over George Kambosos Jr. demonstrated his ability to travel into hostile territory, defeat a champion and maintain control over an entire fight.
More recently, Haney moved to welterweight and defeated Brian Norman Jr. to capture the WBO championship.
Those accomplishments give Haney the advantage in overall quality of opposition defeated.
But his April 2024 encounter with Ryan Garcia showed that he isn't without weaknesses.
Garcia knocked Haney down three times and repeatedly found success with his left hook. The result was eventually changed to a no-contest following Garcia's positive drug test, but the defensive problems Haney experienced that night cannot be ignored.
Paro Has Earned His Place
Liam Paro enters at 28-1 with 16 knockouts and a career built on accepting difficult assignments.
His victory over Subriel Matías in Puerto Rico was one of boxing's more impressive upsets of 2024.
Matías was considered one of the most dangerous fighters at junior welterweight. Paro didn't just survive his aggression. He neutralized it with discipline, movement and effective counterpunching.
His stoppage victory over Montana Love was another important performance, demonstrating his ability to finish a fight when the opportunity presents itself.
Those victories show that Paro is more than a technically capable southpaw. He can adapt and win under pressure.
But there's one defeat that raises questions about his matchup with Haney.
The Richardson Hitchins Problem
Paro's only professional defeat came against Richardson Hitchins in December 2024.
Hitchins used his jab, movement and timing to control significant portions of their fight, earning a split-decision victory.
That's important because Haney possesses many of the same technical strengths.
Both fighters prefer controlling distance, establishing the jab and forcing opponents to work around their defensive positioning.
Paro cannot afford to spend twelve rounds following Haney around the ring without consistently finding opportunities to score.
He must disrupt Haney's rhythm and make the champion uncomfortable.
The improvements Paro claims to have made since their sparring sessions will be tested against one of boxing's most disciplined technicians.
By the Numbers
| Category | Devin Haney | Liam Paro |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 33-0 | 28-1 |
| Knockouts | 15 | 16 |
| KO percentage | 45.5% | 57.1% |
| World championships | Three divisions | Two divisions |
| Best victories | Lomachenko, Kambosos | Matías, Montana Love |
| Most concerning performance | Ryan Garcia (NC) | Richardson Hitchins (L) |
Undercard: Brian Norman Jr. Returns
The co-main event features former WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. against veteran contender Abel Ramos in a ten-round contest.
Norman enters with a 29-1 record and 23 knockouts.
His only professional defeat came against Devin Haney in November 2025, when he lost his WBO championship by unanimous decision.
Norman has since returned to the win column with a second-round stoppage of Josh Wagner.
Now he'll face Abel Ramos, an experienced contender who has shared the ring with some of the division's established names.
Ramos enters with a 29-6-3 record and 22 knockouts. His résumé includes a competitive split draw against Mario Barrios and a victory over previously undefeated Tahmir Smalls.
The co-main event offers an interesting contrast between Norman's explosive punching power and Ramos' experience.
Norman is looking to rebuild his momentum toward another championship opportunity.
Ramos is looking to prove that he can still compete against the division's younger contenders.
Two additional televised fights have yet to be officially announced.
S³ Final Assessment
Haney enters December 19 with the stronger overall résumé, while Paro brings an impressive history of upsetting established champions.
The biggest tactical question concerns Paro's ability to deal with Haney's jab, timing and distance management.
Hitchins demonstrated how difficult that challenge can be.
But Paro's performance against Matías also showed that he can rise to the occasion when few people expect him to win.
Both champions have experienced adversity. Both have championship-level victories.
And both believe their previous sparring sessions provide an advantage.
The difference will be determined when the headgear comes off, the gloves get smaller and the championship belts are on the line.
The S³ official fight prediction will follow in our final pre-fight breakdown.
S³ | Where Intelligence Meets Impact.
