Liam Paro booking another defense puts more distance between him and Ryan Garcia, though Garcia’s alternative choices present a far bigger hurdle. Matchups with Teofimo Lopez or Devin Haney carry massive commercial appeal, which could strand Paro well past his ideal timeline.
“We’re not going to sit on the sideline,” Paro told Fox Sports Australia.
Staying active is the smartest move Paro can make. Continuing to take bouts keeps him sharp instead of burning months chasing an opponent who sees little urgency to fight him.
Teofimo gives Garcia an established American audience. A return bout with Haney carries built-in personal drama. Paro holds a world championship belt, yet hardware alone might not outweigh the bigger paydays Garcia could chase instead.
The calendar for Ryan creates another headache. If Garcia sits out until May, that single appearance eats up the first half of 2027. Another high-profile date could easily swallow the remaining months, leaving Paro on the outside looking in despite handling his business in the ring.
Teofimo’s mandatory duty against Jack Catterall adds some problems, but it will not kill a potential Garcia meeting. The WBA might grant Teofimo an exception so he can keep the strap. Teofimo could also surrender the belt outright to lock down the more lucrative bout.
That situation does not assure Teofimo gets the nod. Still, Paro cannot count on sanctioning body politics to eliminate a popular name from contention.
Title dynamics bring further chaos. If Garcia meets Teofimo first, Paro must hope Garcia wins so the WBC unification prize remains intact. A Garcia loss instantly ruins that scenario before Paro ever secures a signed contract.
Paro holds the power to defend his title and keep his phone line open. He cannot dictate Garcia’s opponent, dictate fight results, or force Garcia to pursue undisputed status.
Taking another bout makes complete sense. Chasing Garcia is worth the ambition, but Paro must build an active calendar that keeps rolling even if Garcia never calls. Paro landing that fight in 2027 makes zero sense from Ryan’s financial perspective.
Ryan operates purely on box office scale. A return match with Devin Haney already has massive public heat, personal grudge, and built-in history that sells pay-per-view buys effortlessly. A fight with Teofimo Lopez brings two huge American fanbases together for an absolute blockbuster. Those two events generate monster gates. Paro simply cannot generate that kind of revenue in the United States.
On top of the financial gap, Paro presents a terrible risk profile for Ryan. Paro is a tough southpaw with an awkward style who makes life miserable inside the ring. Taking on that kind of stylistic headache for a fraction of the money Ryan can make elsewhere is bad business. Fighters in Ryan’s tax bracket do not volunteer for difficult nights unless huge checks back it up.
Then you have the calendar reality. Ryan is not fighting four times a year. If he takes a marquee date in the spring, that eats up the first half of 2027. A massive fall date takes care of the rest. Between Teofimo, Haney, or other lucrative names floating around, 2027 fills up instantly.
Paro holding a title belt does not move the needle for Ryan either. Ryan transcended the need for sanctioning body belts long ago because his name alone drives the promotion.