Harlem Eubank: Papot win would line up Liam Paro shot
Harlem Eubank believes beating David Papot at London's Copper Box Arena on Saturday will line up a shot at new IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro. The Brighton boxer faces the Frenchman for the IBF international title and says a win would push him into the top five and toward the Australian champion.
Key Takeaways
- Harlem Eubank says a Copper Box win over David Papot would line up an IBF title fight with Liam Paro.
- The IBF international title is on the line in the Saturday welterweight clash in London.
- Eubank is the betting underdog and calls the bout a de facto eliminator.
- Paro won the IBF belt from Lewis Crocker on points last month; Papot's only loss was to Paro.
Why Does Harlem Eubank Want the Papot Fight?
According to Sky Sports, Eubank sees Papot as ranked above him with the IBF and views the contest as "a bit of an eliminator."
"Defeating Papot will give me a top-five position and put me in line to fight the champion, which is a fight that can easily be made," he said, while stressing he remains fully focused on Papot first.
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Who Is David Papot and Why Is Eubank the Underdog?
Papot, a French welterweight, brings experience and a near-spotless record. His only professional loss came against Paro last September, and Eubank admits he may have to upset the odds.
"I'm the betting underdog in this fight," Eubank told Sky Sports. "He is an experienced operator. It's a fight that excites me and I can't wait to get in there."
Racing Post lists the bout as a 12-round welterweight main event at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, July 18, with DAZN coverage. Odds have Papot favored, with Eubank around even money or longer.
Eubank's sole defeat was a technical decision to Jack Catterall last July after a clash of heads. He returned with a shutout points win over Josh Wagner last November; Wagner had been stopped by Papot in 2024.
Could a Win Really Lead to Liam Paro?
Paro claimed the IBF welterweight title with a points victory over Belfast's Lewis Crocker last month. Eubank has studied Papot's earlier meeting with Paro more closely than the Wagner fight, calling that version of Papot world-title level.
"We actually thought he won that fight, and my team decided this was exactly the fight I needed to push on and really earn a world title opportunity," Eubank said. He believes Paro does "just enough to win" and that Crocker started too late.
First, though, Harlem Eubank must clear Papot in London—only then does the path to Paro open.