Liam Palo.Photo courtesy of Matchroom Boxing
Undefeated junior welterweight Liam “The Prodigy” Palo aims to show that he is still a dominant force in the division after a stint on the sidelines for over a year.
Not long ago, the 27-year-old Australian southpaw was riding high. He held the No. 1 rank by the WBO, trailing behind then-title holder Josh Taylor, and seemed poised for a shot at challenging one of the best 140-pounders in the world.
However, fate dealt a cruel hand. His scheduled fight against Robbie Davies Jr. was canceled due to a minor facial fracture discovered during mandatory tests by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) just three weeks before the bout. Although Palo was willing to proceed, the fight was called off by BBBofC.
While recovering from the injury, Palo continued training, awaiting his next opportunity. That came in the form of a shot at the WBC belt held by Regis Prograis. However, Palo was diagnosed with chronic tendonitis in both Achilles tendons, preventing him from competing. Prograis defended his title against a substitute on the same day, winning by a split decision in what was described as a hard-fought battle.
Amidst the setbacks, Palo (23-0, 14 KOs) is eager to make a comeback. He will face off against former lightweight champion Devin Haney’s opponent, Montana Love (18-1-1, 9 KOs), on December 9th at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Reflecting on his challenges, Palo emphasized, “The injury was frustrating, very, very frustrating. Mentally, it was a significant test, but that’s part of the sport. We’re on the other side now,” Palo mentioned in an exclusive interview with The Ring magazine.
He continued, “We had no intention of losing two fights in a row. That’s not who I am as a fighter, and that’s not the impression I want to convey. But hey, injuries happen. We carry a target on our bodies every day. That’s my guess.”
