Promoter Eddie Hearn has named Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney as targets for newly crowned IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 7 KOs) to fight next following his 12-round split decision win over undefeated champion Liam Paro (25) -1, 15 KOs) last Saturday night at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Paro fought in a Madrimov-esque style, using finesse and upper body movements to try and trick Hitchins. This style was effective for the first four rounds, but after Hitchins decoded it, it became one-sided from the fifth.
Call out to the stars
The chances of Ryan, Teofimo and Haney agreeing to fight Hitchins are slim to none. Those guys are NOT going to fight a talent like Hitchins and box out the same way he did against Paro. This is not realistic.
Hitchins easily boxed Paro out, taking a close fight by four and dominating the final eight rounds. Hear said after the fight that he sees it as an 8-4 or 7-5 win for Hitchins.
Scores
116-112: Hitchins
117-111: Paro
116-112: Hitchins
Unless His Excellency Turki Alalshikh gets involved in luring Haney, Teofimo or Ryan to fight Hitchins, he’ll have to settle for defending his IBF 140-lb title against a lesser name in the division, because those guys aren’t going to agree to fight him.
Paro vs Hitchins Punch Statistics
– Richardson Hitchins: 15 of 408 punches for a 28% connection rate.
– Liam Paro: 113 of 490 for 23%
“Yes, why not? I don’t think you can base your career around Ryan Garcia right now, but it’s a big fight, he’s a big name, and he’s a big fighter,” Eddie Hearn told the media after Richardson Hitchins ‘s win over Liam Paro last week. Saturday night.
“So, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, and Devin Haney,” Hearn continued about fighters he’d like to face Hitchins next. “There are some guys at 135 who will eventually move up. You talk about Liam possibly fighting (George) Kambosos. Why not Richardson against Kambosos? They also had their beef. Jack Catterall. We have so many guys (at Matchroom who can fight Hitchins). Subriel Matias, yes, for sure.”
Of the names Hearn mentioned above, former IBF champion Subriel Matias, the boogeyman of the 140-lb division, is the most likely one he can get for Hitchins. He will not want to sacrifice British fighter Jack Catterall as he is angling to challenge WBO champion Teofimo Lopez for his belt. Catterall would be food for Hitchins.
Tactical battle
“I think he was one of the toughest guys I’ve ever fought. The bouncing and the European style,” Hitchins said of Paro. “When I got in the ring, I was like, ‘Oh, s***. It’s like being overseas again.’ I’m glad I got the amateur experience to see guys like that.
“So, I kind of knew things to do. I was kind of like (Israel) Madrimov and Terence Crawford with the bounce and the shine. It was a very feeling and very subtle things he did there. So, I think he was one of the toughest guys I fought,” Hitchins said of Paro.
Paro appeared to have studied former WBA 154-lb champion Israil Madrimov’s style and used that approach for his fight against Hitchins. Paro would have had more success if he used the Gustavo Lemos method of all-out attacks. It’s odd that Paro didn’t follow Lemos’ blueprint and instead tried to box Hitchins out. By using that approach, he gave away any chances of winning.
Interestingly, Hearn didn’t look too happy after the fight, suggesting he was hoping Paro would win. In the lead-up to last Saturday’s Paro-Hitchins fight, Hearn spoke about the possibility of matching Paro against Kambosos in a big match in Australia. This fight is no longer possible after last night.
