Haney vs Paro confirmed for December 19 in San Francisco

Devin Haney vs. Liam Paro Confirmed for December 19 at Chase Center.

The WBO and IBF welterweight titles will be unified on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The announcement was made on November 5.

WBO champion Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) will face IBF titleholder Liam Paro (28-1, 16 KOs).

The co-feature is a 10-round welterweight bout between former champion Brian Norman Jr. and two-time world title challenger Abel Ramos.

Two additional fights will be part of the broadcast.

The entire card streams on DAZN PPV starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions are promoting the event.

No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions are also involved.

Ticket information has not yet been announced.

This fight was first reported by FightBook MMA in October.

The winner will hold two of the four major welterweight world titles.

That is a step toward undisputed status but does not make the winner the undisputed champion.

Haney returns to the arena where he defeated Regis Prograis in December 2023.

That win made him a two-division world champion.

He is now a three-division titleholder.

Haney dropped and outpointed Norman in November 2025 to claim the WBO welterweight championship.

His rise began with an interim lightweight title victory over Zaur Abdullaev in 2019.

He was later elevated to full champion that same year.

After four defenses, Haney traveled to Australia twice in 2022.

He defeated George Kambosos Jr. to become undisputed lightweight champion.

He then retained those belts in the rematch.

Haney beat Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2023.

He moved up to 140 pounds in December 2023 and dominated Prograis.

His April 2024 decision loss to Ryan Garcia was later overturned to a no contest.

Haney returned in May 2025 with a victory over Jose Ramirez.

He then won his third divisional title against Norman.

Now Haney welcomes an Australian champion to the Bay Area.

“My resume speaks for itself,” Haney said.

“I’ve never been afraid to go into a champion’s backyard and put my record on the line.

“I went to Australia, took George Kambosos’ belts, and became undisputed lightweight champion of the world.

“Now I’m bringing another Australian world champion, Liam Paro, into my backyard.

“This time, I plan to take his belt and become a unified welterweight world champion right here at home.”

Haney also referenced the Bay Area’s recent championship success.

“Oakland is where my story started, and the Bay Area has always been part of who I am,” Haney said.

“The Valkyries just brought a championship to Chase Center, and on December 19, I plan to keep that championship energy going.

“I made history in Australia. Now it’s time to make history at home.”

Paro has his own history of winning on the road.

The Mackay, Australia, native went to Puerto Rico in June 2024.

He outpointed Subriel Matias for a super lightweight title.

Paro returned that December and lost the title by split decision to Richardson Hitchins in his first defense.

He moved to welterweight the following year.

Paro stopped Jonathan Navarro after five rounds.

He then outpointed the unbeaten David Papot.

In June 2026, Paro handed Lewis Crocker his first defeat by unanimous decision in Brisbane.

That win earned him the IBF welterweight belt and made him a two-division champion.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef praised the matchup.

“The historically prestigious welterweight division is heating up, and it all starts on December 19 in San Francisco when Devin Haney and Liam Paro unify their titles,” duBoef said.

“It is a pleasure to be reunited with Team Haney after orchestrating his successful bid for the undisputed lightweight championship in 2022.

“Paro is no stranger to winning on the road, having broken the hearts of Puerto Rican fans when he upset Subriel Matias for his super lightweight crown.

“This is a terrific matchup with massive stakes.”

Bill Haney, Devin’s father and manager, also commented.

“We are excited to partner with Top Rank, PBC, No Limit Promotions and DAZN to deliver another major night of championship boxing,” Bill Haney said.

“At Devin Haney Promotions, our commitment is to bring meaningful, high-level fights to the sport, and December 19 represents exactly that.

“Devin Haney and Liam Paro are two reigning world champions competing in one of the hottest divisions in boxing.

“This is a championship unification, with the WBO and IBF welterweight titles at stake and the winner taking another step toward becoming undisputed.”

Britton Hardin, Head of Boxing, North America at DAZN, also weighed in.

“Devin Haney aka Debo's homecoming sets the stage for a blockbuster welterweight unification showdown in San Francisco,” Hardin said.

“With Liam Paro looking to make his own statement, and Brian Norman Jr. facing battle-tested former world title challenger Abel Ramos, this card brings together elite talent, compelling rivalries and high stakes.”

The fight is a significant test for both men.

Haney has fought and beaten elite competition at lightweight and super lightweight.

Paro has proven he can win in hostile territory.

The welterweight division is currently one of the most competitive in boxing.

Four major titles are held by different champions.

The winner of Haney-Paro will hold two of them.

That puts them in position for a potential undisputed fight later in 2027.

But the PPV outlook is uncertain.

Neither Haney nor Paro is a proven box-office draw at the pay-per-view level.

Haney’s biggest fights — against Kambosos, Lomachenko, and Garcia — were on traditional broadcast or streaming platforms, not PPV.

Paro has never headlined a major PPV event in the United States.

The undercard, featuring Norman vs. Ramos, adds depth but not star power.

Norman is a former champion coming off a loss to Haney.

Ramos is a respected contender but not a household name.

The price point for the DAZN PPV has not been announced.

Industry observers have questioned whether the card can generate strong buy rates.

That is the challenge facing the promoters.

Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions are betting that Haney’s local appeal in the Bay Area and the unification stakes will drive interest.

Chase Center holds approximately 18,000 seats for boxing events.

A strong live gate could offset some PPV risk.

But the fight’s commercial success will ultimately depend on how many fans pay to watch at home.

The December 19 date places the event in a crowded holiday sports calendar.

That could help or hurt.