Devin Haney has agreed to meet Liam Paro in a WBO and IBF welterweight unification before the close of the year in the United States, according to Mike Coppinger of The Ring. Official confirmation on the date and venue remains pending.
The matchup offers Haney an ideal path toward a second belt. Facing an opponent recently beaten by Richardson Hitchins represents a noticeably safer route than the scrapped Shakur Stevenson clash. Paro carries championship hardware, yet that December 2024 split decision defeat gives Haney a transparent blueprint.
Hitchins took Paro’s 140-pound belt by controlling distance, working behind a disciplined jab, and forcing the Australian to play catch-up all night. Haney possesses the precise reach, jab, and ring generalship required to run the exact same play.
Because of that dynamic, this unification leans toward comfortable territory for Haney. Paro holds a world title, yet Haney does not have to invent a fresh game plan. The tape exists, showing Paro struggling against an opponent armed with a very similar skill set.
The main wildcard rests on Haney’s activity level. He has remained completely inactive since his points win over Brian Norman Jr. on November 22, 2025. Spending 11 full months dining out on that performance makes a Liam Paro unification feel like an underwhelming comeback. High-profile names like Shakur Stevenson, Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn, Teofimo Lopez, and Keyshawn Davis represented the true blockbuster options the boxing public demanded. Two world titles supply formal sanctioning prestige, yet belts alone cannot transform Paro into a premier box-office draw.
To his credit, Paro rebuilt his standing with three straight victories following the Richardson Hitchins setback. He seized the IBF welterweight crown by unanimous decision over Lewis Crocker in June, walking into this contest as a two-weight world champion with a 28-1 resume. Still, the manner in which Hitchins systematically dismantled him leaves Haney holding every stylistic trump card.
The collapse of the Stevenson talks makes this matchup feel even more like a consolation prize. Reports from The Ring indicated that weight limits and rehydration clauses ultimately wrecked that fight. Haney secures a tidy opportunity to pocket a second 147-pound belt, yet outpointing Paro will do nothing to settle whether he can survive against the division’s most lethal stars.
Paro must avoid turning this bout into a fruitless footrace. To take the victory, he has to cut off the ring, hammer the body, and make Haney pay for retreating. Stalking without throwing and waiting for clean openings will merely walk him straight into the WBO champion’s rhythm.
The upside for Haney is massive: capturing a second belt and securing major leverage for future paydays. Defeating Paro takes him one step nearer to an undisputed run at 147, even if it leaves lingering questions about how he handles the division’s truly dangerous punchers.