Haney and Paro Face Off Ahead of Dec. 19 Welterweight Unification

SAN FRANCISCO — They are finally in the same room.

WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney and IBF titleholder Liam Paro faced off Tuesday for the first time, at the official kickoff press conference for their Dec. 19 unification at Chase Center. Top Rank, DAZN Boxing and The Ring all posted the staredown as the first meeting of the two champions. The card is live on DAZN pay-per-view, as previously announced by Top Rank on Nov. 5.

According to Top Rank, tickets go on presale Thursday, Nov. 12, at 12 p.m. PT, with the general on-sale Friday, Nov. 13, at 12 p.m. PT. The 10-round welterweight co-feature remains Brian Norman Jr. vs. Abel Ramos. Top Rank's Nov. 5 release said the DAZN PPV broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

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The press conference was not short on talk. In a DAZN clip from the dais, Bill Haney called out Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson. He said his side had put a 147-pound fight to Davis, that the WBO made it a mandatory, and that DAZN and Top Rank "put up the money" with "no answer." He then referred to what he called "the Shakur debacle," saying they offered a fight at 145 "with no concessions."

Bill Haney also went at Paro. In a Main Event TV clip, he said Paro sounded different under the lights, looking at "Debo," than he had on social media. "We're not sleeping on you," he said. "Devin is coming to fight." Paro answered that he stood by what he had already said: "I said what I've said, that's it, I stand by it. Like Devin said, we'll see December 19th."

DAZN captioned a separate clip as Devin Haney saying he is "levels above" Paro. In the clip itself, Haney said, "Under those lights, I'm a different fighter," and that he would "show him that it's levels." He also said he intended to make Paro "pay" for things Paro has said. Asked whether Haney might be a level above him, Paro said he would "have to wait and see." "It's boxing, man," he said. "I believe every fight's 50-50."

For the original date, venue and broadcast details, see our Dec. 19 announcement and the earlier kickoff press conference preview.

The Kimster's Take

First face-off is in the books, and both sides used the microphone. The only date that matters now is Dec. 19. If you have a read on how Haney vs. Paro goes, Fight Picker and Guess the Rounds are open for the call.

Sources: Top Rank Boxing on X, Nov. 10, 2026; DAZN Boxing on X, Nov. 10, 2026; Main Event TV on X, Nov. 10, 2026; The Ring on X, Nov. 10, 2026; Top Rank official release, Nov. 5, 2026. Graphic: Top Rank.