Liam Paro Could Wait Deep Into 2027 for Ryan Garcia Fight

Liam Paro is staying active with another title defense rather than waiting around for a Ryan Garcia fight that may not materialize until late 2027, if at all.

Paro holds a world title and has made it clear he wants Garcia across the ring, but Garcia has more lucrative options on the table, including a blockbuster rematch with Devin Haney or a crossover clash with Teofimo Lopez. Both fights offer bigger American audiences and bigger paydays than a trip through Paro's awkward southpaw style.

"We're not going to sit on the sideline," Paro told Fox Sports Australia, confirming he plans to keep fighting rather than hold a date open for Garcia.

Why Garcia Has No Urgency to Fight Paro

Ryan Garcia's business model runs on box office appeal, not title belts, and Liam Paro simply does not move the needle the way Devin Haney or Teofimo Lopez would. A Haney rematch carries built-in bad blood and history that sells itself, while a Lopez fight merges two established American fan bases into a genuine stadium-level event. Paro, respected as he is, cannot offer that kind of commercial scale in the United States. On top of that, Paro's style makes him a bad risk-reward fight for Garcia. He is a tough, awkward southpaw who makes opponents work for every round, exactly the type of stylistic matchup that fighters at Garcia's earning level tend to avoid unless the money is overwhelming.

How the Calendar Could Push Paro Into 2027

Ryan Garcia fighting only once or twice a year makes a near-term Liam Paro fight increasingly unlikely. If Garcia takes a marquee bout in the spring, that occupies roughly the first half of 2027, and a second high-profile fall date could easily fill out the rest of the year. Teofimo Lopez's mandatory title obligation against Jack Catterall complicates things further, though not fatally. The WBA could grant Lopez an exception to keep his belt while chasing the Garcia fight, or Lopez could simply vacate to secure the bigger payday. Either path keeps Lopez in play as a more attractive option than Paro, and it pushes any realistic path to a Paro fight further down the calendar.

Betting Angle

For bettors, the smart read is that Liam Paro's title reign and the Ryan Garcia sweepstakes are two separate markets right now. Paro remains a live betting proposition in his own weight class thanks to his awkward southpaw style and title pedigree, and staying active only sharpens him for whoever he faces next. Garcia, meanwhile, is shaping up as the centerpiece of a Haney or Lopez showdown, and either of those fights would open as a more balanced, bigger-money line than a Garcia-Paro pairing, where Garcia's commercial standing would likely make him a solid favorite regardless of the real stylistic danger Paro presents. Until Garcia's 2027 schedule firms up, oddsmakers have little reason to price a Paro fight at all.

Paro's path forward is straightforward even if Garcia's is not. He can defend his title, stay busy, and make his case, but he cannot force Garcia's hand, control a Lopez-Garcia outcome, or speed up sanctioning body politics that could decide who Garcia fights next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why hasn't Ryan Garcia agreed to fight Liam Paro?

Ryan Garcia has more commercially appealing options in a rematch with Devin Haney or a matchup with Teofimo Lopez, both of which offer bigger paydays and bigger American audiences than a fight with Liam Paro.

What is Liam Paro doing while he waits for a Ryan Garcia fight?

Liam Paro is booking another title defense to stay active, saying 'we're not going to sit on the sideline' rather than wait idly for a Ryan Garcia fight to materialize.

Could Teofimo Lopez's mandatory fight affect a Ryan Garcia matchup?

Teofimo Lopez has a mandatory title defense against Jack Catterall, but he could still pursue a Ryan Garcia fight by getting a WBA exception or vacating his title.