Haney vs. Paro title unification set for December 19

Devin Haney will defend his WBO welterweight title against IBF champion Liam Paro in a two-belt unification bout on December 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The fight pairs a former undisputed lightweight champion against an Australian titleholder who pulled off an upset road win earlier this year.

Haney, 33-0 (15 KOs), is a three-division world champion from the Bay Area.

Paro, 28-1, made Australian boxing history in June when he beat Lewis Crocker for the IBF welterweight world title.

He joined Jeff Fenech and Danny Green as multiple-division world champions from Australia.

Paro shocked the boxing world in 2024 when he beat Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico.

The fearless southpaw is now plotting another overseas raid.

“Three years ago, I was on the undercard at Chase Center the night Devin fought Regis Prograis,” Paro said.

“I said back then that Haney versus Paro rolls off the tongue. Now it’s here. Champion versus champion, two belts on the line, in his backyard.”

“I’ve never taken the easy road.”

“I went to Puerto Rico and took the title off Matias in front of his own people.”

“Devin’s a great fighter and I respect that. But I’ve been the underdog plenty of times and I’ve made history before.”

“I’m coming to unify the division and make more history.”

Haney framed the bout as a homecoming.

He grew up in Oakland and said the Bay Area shaped his career.

“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.”

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

Haney has been out of the ring since his November 22 unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr.

He endured failed negotiations with unbeaten four-division champion Shakur Stevenson before selecting Paro.

Paro had been in talks to fight on the December 13 Erislandy Lara-Tim Tszyu junior middleweight-title card in Australia.

Instead, he chose the unification fight in San Francisco.

The card features a co-main event between Brian Norman Jr. and Abel Ramos.

Norman Jr. is a former welterweight titleholder.

Ramos is a former welterweight title challenger.

The card is also expected to include unbeaten welterweight and 2024 U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef praised the matchup.

“The historically prestigious welterweight division is heating up, and it all starts on Dec. 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.”

Haney’s father-trainer-manager, Bill Haney, is targeting an undisputed welterweight reign.

Fellow champions Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez Jr. have negotiated for their own unification on February 6 in Las Vegas.

“We made championship history at Chase Center at 140 pounds,” Bill Haney said.

“Now we’re returning at 147 for another opportunity to make history, looking to build on that success and deliver a memorable night of world-class boxing for the Bay Area.”

The winner moves halfway to undisputed at welterweight.

Haney famously traveled to Australia in 2022, winning back-to-back blockbusters against then lightweight king George Kambosos.

He took all the lightweight belts from Kambosos at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

Paro will face the biggest test of his career against the brilliant Haney.

Haney has won world titles at lightweight, super lightweight and welterweight.

The fight is scheduled for December 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco.

First bell is set for mid-December with the venue announcement firming up travel plans for both camps.

The bout will stream on DAZN, Haney's new streaming home.

This will be Haney's first welterweight title defense for DAZN.

Paro enters as the underdog but reminded reporters he took Matias' belt in Puerto Rico earlier this year.

He said he respects Haney's skills but has upset odds before.

“I've been the underdog plenty of times and I've made history before,” Paro said.

He noted he fought on the undercard at Chase Center three years ago when Haney stopped Regis Prograis.

He predicted then that the matchup would eventually happen.

Now it has.

Champion versus champion.

Two belts on the line.