Richardson Hitchins is lucky to be combating for a world title towards IBF junior welterweight champ Liam Paro on Saturday night time in San Juan, Puerto Rico on DAZN.
Hitchins, 18-0 (7 KOs), fought tooth and nail towards Gustavo Lemos final outing in April, barely beating the Argentine through unanimous choice in a combat many observers believed he misplaced.
Hitchins outlanded Lemos 172 to 161 within the 12-round combat to safe his necessary shot at Paro, 25-0 (15 KOs).
An unhappy Hitchins mirrored on his most up-to-date efficiency.
“That was an ass efficiency as hell towards Lemos,” Hitchins informed BoxingScene. “It was a horrible efficiency. I labored onerous in camp but it surely wasn’t lengthy. I positively neglected Gustavo Lemos. After beating Jose Zepeda, I used to be like ‘this man is a bum. I will stroll by means of him.’ I believe that is why my camp was not that lengthy. Lemos was tremendous hungry, in form, and introduced a quick, rugged tempo. I do not suppose I’ve seen too many types like Lemos. You see the pitbulls, however pitbulls do not include the amount that Lemos did. I misplaced six kilos the day earlier than the combat and I used to be drained. And I had a hand damage. I beat him with one hand for almost all of the combat. That alone exhibits you the extent that I’m on. My confidence … individuals are going to say what they wish to say, however I do know it’s what it’s. It is boxing.”
Hitchins’ debatable win towards Lemos has not aged nicely as a result of Lemos returned to combat Keyshawn Davis in November and was knocked out in two rounds.
Hitchins, a 27-year-old Brooklyn-born boxer, believes he will likely be a thorn within the facet of the opposite lively champions within the division as soon as he turns into a titleholder as nicely alongside the likes of Teofimo Lopez Jnr (WBO), Jose Valenzuela (WBA), and Alberto Puello (WBC).
“I have been attempting to make up for misplaced time ever for the reason that first day I signed with Eddie Hearn,” mentioned Hitchins, who previously fought for Mayweather Promotions. “That is all me and my supervisor Keith Connolly discuss. We have been behind the eight ball and we’re simply attempting to catch up.
“As soon as I win the title, I’m trying to face the opposite high-level fighters. I am part of that echelon. The belts have been bouncing at 140 kilos however I’m going to carry on to mine after I beat Paro and unify. I wish to carry a homecoming combat again to New York Metropolis as a world champion.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports activities, USA At this time, The Guardian, Newsweek, Males’s Well being, NFL.com, Los Angeles Occasions, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Journal and extra. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He will be reached on X (previously Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, by means of e mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or through www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
