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Promoter Eddie Hearn has named Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney as targets for newly crowned IBF welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) to fight following his 12-round split decision victory over undefeated champion Liam Parr (25). -1, 15 KO) last Saturday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Paro fought in the Madrimov style, using feints and upper body movement to try and fool Hitchins. This style was effective in the first four rounds, but after Hitchins decoded it, it became one-sided from the fifth.
Summoning the stars
The chances of Ryan, Teofimo and Haney agreeing to fight Hitchins are slim to none. Those guys are NOT going to want to fight a talent like Hitchins and get outboxed the same way he did against Par. That’s not realistic.
Hitchins easily outboxed Para, taking a close fight through four and dominating the final eight rounds. Hear said after the fight that he saw it as an 8-4 or 7-5 win for Hitchins.
The results
116-112: Hitchins
117-111: Pair
116-112: Hitchins
Unless His Excellency Turki Alalshikh steps in to entice Haney, Teofim or Ryan to fight Hitchins, he’ll have to settle for defending his IBF 140lb title against a lesser name in the division because those guys won’t agree to fight him .
Paro vs Hitchins kicking stats
– Richardson Hitchins: 15 of 408 shots for a 28% connect rate.
– Liam Paro: 113 out of 490 for 23%
“Yes, why not? I don’t think you can base your career on Ryan Garcia at the moment, but it’s a big fight, he’s a big name and a big fighter,” Eddie Hearn told the media after Richardson Hitchins’ last win over Liam Parra on Saturday night.
“So Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney,” Hearn continued of the fighters he would like to face Hitchins next. “There are some guys at 135 who will eventually move up. You’re talking about Liam potentially fighting with (George) Kambosos. Why not Richardson vs. Kambosos? They also had their own beef. Jack Catterall. We have so many guys (in Matchroom who can take on Hitchins). Subriel Matias, yes, for sure.”
Of the names Hearn mentioned above, former IBF champion Subriel Matias, the specter of the 140lb division, is the most likely one he can get for Hitchins. He will not want to sacrifice British fighter Jack Catterall as he urges him to challenge WBO champion Teofimo Lopez for his belt. Catterall would be fodder for Hitchins.
Tactical battle
“I think he was one of the meanest guys I fought. Bouncy and European style,” Hitchins said of Paro. “When I got in the ring, I was like, ‘Oh, s***. This is like being abroad again.’ I’m glad I got the amateur experience to see such guys.
“So I kind of knew what needed to be done. I was like (Israel) Madrimov and Terence Crawford with bouncing and fainting. There was a lot of feinting and a lot of subtle things he was doing there. So I think he’s been one of the toughest guys I’ve fought,” Hitchins said of Paro.
Paro appeared to have studied the style of former WBA 154lb champion Izrael Madrimov and used that approach for his fight against Hitchins. Paro would have had more success if he had used Gustavo Lemos’ method of total attacks. Oddly, Paro didn’t follow Lemos’ plan and instead tried to outbox Hitchins. By using such an approach, he gave up any chance of victory.
Interestingly, Hearn didn’t seem overly happy after the fight, suggesting he was hoping Paro would win. Ahead of the Paro-Hitchins fight last Saturday, Hearn spoke about a potential pairing with Paro against Kambosos in Australia’s major competition. That fight is no longer possible after last night.
