There is a silver lining to Liam Paro's black and blue right eye which the tough Australian hopes is a trap that nets a second world title.
In his welterweight debut in Brisbane on Thursday, a dogged Paro fought one-eyed for eight rounds but still notched a unanimous points victory over the previously undefeated French showman David Papot.
It was a brutal introduction to the division against 34-year-old Papot, who at his biggest has fought four divisions higher than the super lightweight class Paro won and lost IBF world titles in last year.
The 29-year-old Queenslander was unflinching though, chipping away despite Papot's mid-fight dominance as judges, perhaps generously, scored the 12-round tussle 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112.
Defeat in a fight billed as an IBF world-title eliminator would have been disastrous for a boxer seeking a second strap, this time in a division stacked with big-name boxers.
After staring defeat in his swollen face, Paro said he hoped those rivals smelt blood as he attempts to lure a world-title fight to Australia.
"I hope they do, because I see vulnerability in them too," Paro said.
"You've got to be confident in this sport.
"Not everything's going to be rainbows and sunshine.
"I love it, I really do and it's not always going to be pretty."
Champions Lewis Crocker (IBF), Mario Barrios (WBC) and Rolando Romero (WBA) are prime targets while Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn and even Manny Pacquiao have all been tossed up.
"I hope they think they saw opportunities against Liam," promoter George Rose of No Limit said.
"I know for a fact he can beat every one of those champions and I hope they think they can beat him.
"There's great opportunities there and we'd love to get Rolly, Barrios over here.
"They'd love it ... but they would leave without their belts."
Paro won his first world title in Puerto Rico against the odds and is still now attempting to build his brand domestically.
"He (Papot) was a big boy in that ring and ... down at the lower weight he showed he could punch a bit and Liam did well to evade the barrage," long-time coach Alfie Di Carlo said.
"These are character building fights. We're under no illusion what it takes to win a world title cause we've done it.
"These are the kind of fights ... where you learn a lot about yourself."
Paro admitted to some nervous moments after the fourth-round blow that split his defences and sent him staggering back towards the ropes.
"(I was thinking) holy shit. In the heat of the moment, just trying to crack him back, just keep fighting," he said.
"One hundred per cent I fighting with one eye, trying to light it up.
"It's character building. I's not going to be pretty all the time. They're soul searching fights."
