Few gave him much of a chance before he went into enemy territory and upset Subriel Matias by unanimous decision in Puerto Rico to become the IBF 140-pound champion in June 2024. Now, Paro finds himself going into his opponent’s backyard again, though this time, the stakes are even higher.

Paro (28-1, 16 KOs) will face Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC), who was born in San Francisco and raised in nearby Oakland, in a welterweight title unification title bout December 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The 12-round welterweight fight for Paro’s IBF and Haney’s WBO titles will stream on DAZN.

“I’ll always back myself to the heels,” Paro said at the press conference to formally announce the fight on Tuesday. “I’m used to being the underdog, and it’s less pressure on me, but this is as big as it gets. I know the challenge ahead of us, and I’m keen to share the ring with Devin.

“This is a fight that’s for the cookies, and look, the winner of this fight arguably could be the king of the welterweight division. I believe this is the two best fighters here.”

Paro, 30, became the IBF welterweight champion when he beat Lewis Crocker by unanimous decision June 24 in Tennyson, Australia. The win made the Australian southpaw a two-division champion in just his second fight as a full-fledged welterweight.

While Paro has risen to the occasion before, he knows that Haney represents a far different task compared to those he has previously faced. Paro and Haney shared the ring when they sparred four years ago, though both fighters noted the difference from that experience and what they’ll face next month.

“He’s where he is for a reason,” Paro said of Haney, who is ranked No. 8 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list. “He’s a multiple-division world champion. You got to give him respect. Sparring is sparring – [it’s been] four years since then. I’ve won two world titles. I’ve fought elite fighters since then. I’m ready to come in and shock the world again. I tend to rain on parades, so I’m ready to go.”

Haney, 27, will enter the unification clash off a much longer layoff. He last fought November 22, when he beat Brian Norman Jr. by unanimous decision to become the WBO welterweight champion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The win made Haney, The Ring’s No. 1 welterweight contender for its vacant title, a three-division world champion.

Haney said he’d show he is on a vastly different level than Paro. For Paro, facing Haney will be the opportunity he has wanted since he first put on gloves, a chance to shake up the 147-pound division.

“I’m ready to prove him wrong and shock him, too,” Paro said. “I do respect Devin [and] where he’s at. I want to be a superstar, too, and taking him out will make me that. This is everything for me. This is what I’ve worked for my whole life. … I’m ready to come in there all guns blazing and leave no stone unturned. I’m going to give Devin the fight of his life.”