Unification remains the champion’s priority, but he kept the Kambosos fight available if an agreement with Haney cannot be completed.
“My goal first and foremost is unification fights,” Paro told Code Sports. “I know I’m at that top level. I’d love to take out Devin Haney and unify the welterweight division. But if unifications aren’t on the table just yet, and the fans wanted to see an all-Aussie showdown with George Kambosos, I’m open to that too. George would need to handle business first, get a win, and then maybe we can talk, as I hold all the cards.”
That condition shows the Kambosos fight is not ready to be made. The contact between the teams is better understood as groundwork for a possible event rather than an agreement nearing completion.
Believing they may lose the unification might make Devin and Bill Haney more willing to meet Paro’s financial requests or accelerate negotiations. The Australian champion does not have to remain tied to one difficult deal when a profitable domestic contest is available.
Despite his decline, the former three-belt lightweight champion retains commercial value in Australia. His charisma, confidence, and willingness to sell an event give the pairing pay-per-view potential, while the fight presents less danger to Paro than Haney. His last appearance ended when Richardson Hitchins stopped him in the eighth round in June 2025.
Since 2022, he has lost four of his last six bouts and has never campaigned at welterweight during the championship portion of his career.
No top-15 IBF ranking currently exists for him at welterweight or light welterweight. IBF rules require the challenger in an optional defense to be ranked in the top 15 of the champion’s division. Before becoming eligible, Kambosos needs an opponent, a victory, and an IBF ranking at 147 pounds. Any placement would look commercially motivated because he has done nothing at welterweight to earn it.
The situation works in Paro’s favor. It gives him a potentially lucrative fallback in Australia while placing pressure on the Haneys to complete the more prestigious fight on acceptable terms.
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