Richardson Hitchins is able to show he’s on a ‘totally different stage’ to Liam Paro, as he closes in on his showdown for the Australian’s IBF World Junior Welterweight title at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night time, dwell worldwide on DAZN.
Hitchins (18-0 7 KOs) is combating for his first World title in opposition to the Australian, who defends the crown he gained in Puerto Rico in opposition to 140lb bogeyman Subriel Matias in June. Paro (25-0 15 KOs) ripped the crown from the native favourite in his first World title struggle, and now the hunter turns into the hunted, as Hitchins appears to emulate the champion’s summer season feat.
The Brooklyn ace penned a promotional cope with promoter Eddie Hearn in September 2022, and simply over two years later with 4 fights underneath his belt, the 27 yr previous is the necessary challenger for Paro, and is decided to transform his exhausting work into touchdown the largest prize on the first try.
“I’m on a special stage,” stated Hitchins. “I can say that however on Saturday I get the chance to get within the ring and show it.
“I really feel I’m a greater fighter, a greater boxer. I’ve the higher instruments and am extra skilled. In case you take a look at my boxing journey from the amateurs, the Olympics, to dealing with ex-world champions and plenty of younger undefeated fighters, you’ll perceive.
“Paro gained a lot of expertise from the Matías struggle, however I really feel that have in opposition to that model is not going to be sufficient as a result of it’s a fully totally different model to mine.
“He’s a grimy fighter and he has a superb left hand. He’s intelligent however I don’t suppose he’s something I haven’t seen earlier than.
“To be trustworthy, I can actually see me getting the KO. I do know that he’s been dropped a number of instances, he’s been harm various instances however I don’t suppose he’s confronted anybody as correct as me. I don’t suppose will probably be my energy a lot that can shock him however my accuracy. That would be the distinction within the struggle.
“With the younger fighters on the cardboard and Eddie Hearn’s promotion, will probably be a terrific night time of boxing.”
Hitchin’s conflict with Paro is a part of a stacked night time of motion in San Juan, with the co-feature an all-Puerto Rican conflict between Henry Lebron (19-0 10 KOs) and Christopher Diaz (29-5 19 KOs) as Lebron returns to his homeland for the primary time in 5 years and does so within the largest night time of his profession, because the #4 within the IBF appears to press his claims for World title motion in 2025 with an enormous win over a home rival and choose up the vacant IBF Latino and WBO NABO titles within the course of. Diaz sits fairly at #7 within the WBA, has already tasted World title motion and is hungry to take action once more, and ‘Pitufo’ places his WBA Continental Latin America title on the road in a pivotal conflict for the speedy futures of each.
Puerto Rican Olympian Yankiel Rivera will tackle Angel Gonzalez for the vacant WBC Silver, WBA Continental Americas and WBO Intercontinental Flyweight titles.
Rivera (6-0 2 KOs) is handily positioned within the rankings at #3 with the WBA, #9 with the WBC and #11 with the WBO, and fights at house for the second time in 2024 having seen off the skilled Victor Sandoval over ten rounds in June in Manati, defending the WBA strap and including the WBO belt.
The 27 yr previous will probably be seeking to rubber stamp his World title credentials for a shot in 2025, however Gonzalez (14-0 7 KOs) will probably be out to spoil these plans within the largest struggle of his profession. The 31 yr previous with Puerto Rican roots landed the NABF title at 112lbs in June in Connecticut, and may catapult himself into the World title combine with victory in December.
Jalil Hackett will purpose so present as soon as once more that he has no concern within the infancy of his profession as he travels to Puerto Rico for a title protection. Hackett (9-0 7 KOs) was spectacular in an enormous step as much as win the WBA Continental Americas Welterweight title on his Matchroom debut in opposition to Peter Dobson in July, and ‘Main’ will defend that title in one other actual check in opposition to Puerto Rico’s former newbie standout Jose Roman (13-1 6 KOs).
Marc Castro and Stephanie Pineiro have confirmed opponents for the night time, with Castro (13-0 8 KOs) tackling Agustin Quintana (20-1-2 13 KOs) over ten rounds at Light-weight, and Pineiro (7-0 2 KOs) assembly Ogleidis Suarez (30-5-1 14 KOs) over eight rounds Welterweight.
Puerto Rico’s Juan Zayas (10-0-1 8 KOs) takes on Dominican Geraldo Valdez (16-2 11 KOs) over eight rounds at Bantamweight and Matchroom’s Puerto Rican expertise William Ortiz (6-0 4 KOs) faces fellow unbeaten Puerto Rican Lionell Colon (6-0 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Tremendous-Light-weight.
