IBF light welterweight champion Liam Paro says challenger Richardson Hitchins doesn’t like to be involved in fast-paced fights, and that’s what he intends on bringing to him in 18 days on December 7th in their headliner on DAZN at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan.
Hitchins (18-0, 6 KOs) did not perform well in his last fight against the 5’5″ Gustavo Lemos, who he defeated by an unpopular 12-round unanimous decision on April 6th in Las Vegas.
That was a fight where he took many hard shots at Lemos, who has power, and he got the better of him throughout the fight. The Nevada judges gave Eddie Hearn-promoted Hitchins a huge break by giving him the decision, but it was a hollow victory. He’d been exposed.
Hitchins vs. Lemos Punch Stats
Lemos: 161 of 696 for 23.1% accuracy
Hitchins: 172 of 548 punches for 31.4%
Paro will apply pressure to Hitchins like Lemos did, but likely with more emphasis on the power game. The Brooklyn, New York native Hitchin, 27, falls apart when getting hit hard and takes off running.
We saw that at play in his fights against Lemos and Jose Zepeda. The crowds booed Hitchins loudly for unwillingness to engage or stand in the pocket.
This is Paro’s first defense of his IBF 140-lb title that he captured earlier this year against the boogeyman of the division, Subriel Matias, on June 15th in Manati, Puerto Rico.
The southpaw Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) neutralized Matias’ power by using movement, holding, and roughhouse tactics to win a close 12-round unanimous decision in front of his fans. It still wasn’t easy for Paro, 28, because he took some big shots from Matias while standing in the pocket.
If Paro hadn’t had a great chin, he might not have gotten through it because some of the shots he got hit with would have taken out fighters like Devin Haney.
“He doesn’t like a fast-paced fight, and he doesn’t like a dog fight,” said Liam Paro to YSM Sports Media when asked if he watched Richardson Hitchins’ last fight against Gustavo Lemos on April 6th. “Anyone that knows Liam Paro knows what I’m about.
“We’re going to see on December 7th if that self-belief is there for himself. Liam Paro is coming 110%. I’m ready to hear the words, ‘And still.’”
Hitchins’ recent wins
Gustavo Lemos
Jose Zepeda
John Bauza
Yomar Alamo