Hitchins overcomes slow start to take IBF 140 world title from Paro
Puts his considerable skills to work in decision victory, then calls out champion and fellow Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez to unify
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For all of the talk Richardson Hitchins did about how he would rumble with Liam Paro and that he even envisioned a knockout victory that was probably fantasy or promotion.
Hitchins at his best is a boxer through and through and when the fight was on the line he played the part of tactician to near perfection.
Hitchins overcame a slow start through four rounds but then, given a stern talking to in his corner, danced with what brought him to this mandatory shot at the IBF junior welterweight title: His boxing skills. His jab. An effective right hand.
In the end, Hitchins won a split decision — it shockingly was not unanimous — to take Paro’s 140-pound crown in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN on Saturday night at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Two judges had it 116-112 for Hitchins, while judge Nelson Vazquez, with a history of outlier scorecards, had it 117-111 for Paro, who didn’t even think he had won the fight. Fight Freaks Unite also had it 116-112 for Hitchins.
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