TLDR
- Devin Haney and Liam Paro will unify WBO and IBF welterweight titles on December 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco
- Haney questioned Paro’s opposition quality and claims he is ‘levels above’ fighters Paro has faced
- Paro embraces underdog role and points to his development since their sparring sessions four years ago
- Both fighters previously competed at the same venue in December 2023 when Haney beat Prograis and Paro stopped Montana Love
- The fight will air on DAZN pay-per-view starting at 8 p.m. Eastern, with tickets going on sale November 13
Sources: middleeasy.com | badlefthook.com | fightmag.com
Devin Haney and Liam Paro faced off for the first time on November 10 at a press conference in San Francisco to announce their welterweight title unification fight. The two champions will meet on December 19 at Chase Center, with Haney’s WBO belt and Paro’s IBF title on the line.
Haney did not hold back when discussing his opponent’s career. The three-division champion said he is “levels above” the fighters Paro has beaten and lost to.
“I must show him on December 19 that Devin Haney is a special fighter,” Haney said. “Like I told Brian Norman Jr., like I’m telling him, I am a special fighter, and I will show the world on December 19.”
Bill Haney GOES OFF on Shakur Stevenson‼️‼️🚨
“Does Shakur have a f***** fight up? So why you bringing up Shakur? You dragged Shakur and Devin all through the m******* mud for over a year!!”
🎥: https://t.co/61xV2DW9np pic.twitter.com/98Jv94cv19
— Fight Hub TV (@FightHubTV) November 10, 2026
The 27-year-old Bay Area native mentioned he had a lengthy layoff after trying to arrange other fights. He explained that signing with DAZN made sense because they had the opponents he wanted to face.
Paro responded by acknowledging Haney’s accomplishments while defending his own resume. The Australian champion said four years have passed since they sparred together and he has developed significantly.
“Haney is good. I’ll give Devin his cookies,” Paro said. “He’s where he is for a reason. He’s a multiple-division world champion. You’ve got to give him respect.”
Different Paths to Championship Status
Paro won his first world title by defeating Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico in June 2024. He lost that super-lightweight belt to Richardson Hitchins by split decision in December of that year.
The 30-year-old then moved up to welterweight and captured the IBF title by beating previously unbeaten Lewis Crocker in Brisbane on June 24, 2026. That victory gave him a championship in a second weight division.
Haney became WBO welterweight champion by defeating Brian Norman Jr. in Riyadh in November 2025. The fight ended with scores of 114-113, 116-111, and 117-110 after Haney scored a second-round knockdown with a left hook and right cross combination.
That win made Haney a three-division world champion. He also expressed interest in facing the winner of a potential Ryan Garcia versus Teofimo Lopez fight to pursue undisputed status at 147 pounds.
Familiar Venue for Both Fighters
Both champions have fought at Chase Center before. In December 2023, Haney defeated Regis Prograis at the venue to become a two-division champion.
Paro stopped Montana Love on that same card. Now he returns as the co-main event headliner rather than a supporting bout.
Haney said he loves fighting southpaws like Paro. He claimed the sparring from four years ago remains relevant because Paro has not changed much as a fighter.
Paro embraced his underdog status and said he is ready to “shock the world again.” The Australian said he tends to “rain on parades” and will look to close the show if an opening presents itself, though he did not guarantee a knockout.
The DAZN pay-per-view will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. Brian Norman Jr. will face Abel Ramos in a ten-round welterweight co-feature.
Tickets for the event go on sale November 13 at noon Pacific time. Top Rank and Devin Haney Promotions are staging the event with No Limit Boxing and TGB Promotions.
