Mandatory challenger Richardson Hitchins weighed in at 139.8 pounds, and IBF light welterweight champion Liam Paro weighed in at 139.6 pounds on Friday at their weigh-in for Saturday’s contest at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Hitchins (19-0, 7KOs) looked like he was cut from stone with his physique like a statue. In contrast, Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) didn’t look as well trained and had dark circles under both eyes, suggesting he had a few restless nights, perhaps worried about the risky fight ahead.
Paro, 28, cannot afford to lose this fight as he has a big-money fight against fellow Aussie George Kambosos, which is pushed as the next match if he wins.
“It’s crunch time. The talk is done. I’m ready to go in there and put on a show,” Liam Paro said after weighing in. “I’m one sleep away from finding out what they’re all about.”
“It’s great. I belong on the world stage. My talent doesn’t belong anywhere else. If I were to fight any other type of competition, it would be kind of bullying,” Richardson Hitchins said.
“I’m supposed to fight the best guys in the world because the fans would call it either way. I want to thank Eddie Hearn for giving me this opportunity. There were no easy fights to get a world title. I earned my place to reach the world title.
“It wasn’t like I was a #2 or #3 guy and Eddie called me and asked me if I wanted to fight for a world title. I had to earn my place, and that’s what I did. For the fans out there, I’m finally here. I finally made it to the championship, and tomorrow night we’re going to put on a great show and I’m going to continue to show the world what got me here. That I’m a tremendous fighter all around,” Hitchins said.
