And The New: Hitchins Beats Paro in Puerto Rico

Richardson Hitchins brought the best version of himself to Puerto Rico, putting together an improved offense driven by his use of range and timing to get the better of Liam Paro to score his biggest-ever victory.

Richardson Hitchins was overcome with emotion on his victory. Photo: Melina Pizano/ Matchroom

Hitchins of Brooklyn (19-0, 13 KOs) lept into the air hearing the magic words “And the new!” at San Juan’s Coliseo Roberto Clemente, defeating Paro of Queensland, Australia (25-1, 15 KOs) by majority decision. Scores were 116-112 twice for Hitchins and a head-scratching 117-111 for Paro.

“I was just hoping they didn’t rob me. It’s a full circle moment,” said Hitchins. “I’m just happy to become world champion. I’m at a loss for words. I knew today I was going to wake up and become world champion, but I didn’t know how it was going to go.”

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Lessons Learned Pay Off For Hitchins

Richardson Hitchins put up far more offense against Liam Paro than in his last fight. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Hitchins heeded the lessons learned after barely surviving his fight against Gustavo Lemos. He showed far more energy, far more offense, with sharp power jabs setting up left hands. Combining an improved offense with his use of range and timing, he put it all together to win the fight.

Paro started quickly, winning the early rounds by dictating the pace and progress of the fight just as he did in his upset victory over Subriel Matias. Forcing Hitchins to stay busy would take advantage of any loss of stamina by Hitchins, who has struggled to make weight in the past.

But not this time. Hitchins said that after the fight, his team had him in perfect condition and well-prepared to deal with Paro. “Today, I said there would be no excuses,” explained Hitchins, who admitted he was jittery all day before the fight. “I knew I had to go out there and be great.”

Richardson Hitchins listened and followed the guidance from his corner to step up the pace after the fourth round. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Hitchins’ corner implored him to step it up after the fourth round. But Hitchins said he had the fight in hand.

“I kept telling them to calm down. His bouncing, his in and out. Once I started getting the timing of the right hand, I started taking over. But I knew I was going to get him.

“I knew if he came at me, it was going to be an easy night. But he made me think every round. I had to be sharp, and that’s what I did,” explained Hitchins.

In the fifth round, Hitchins started letting the right hand go. A hard punch damaged Paro’s nose as it started to bleed. Hitchins was also bleeding from the mouth, but it didn’t affect him as the fight became far more feisty. Hitchins’ corner continued to encourage him to use the right hand. “It’s there all day,” and they were correct.

As Hitchins began to pull away, Paro’s body language said it all. He could see the fight getting away from him, and so did everyone watching – except the judge who scored the fight for Paro.

Paro: ‘Humble in victory, humble in defeat’

Liam Paro congratulates Richardson Hitchins, making no excuses for his loss. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Paro’s corner told him he needed to take more risks in the championship rounds, telling him, “You gotta show me how much you want it, brother! It’s time to go!” But it was too late. Hitchins was completely dialed in, giving Paro little chance to turn things around.

“I’m humble in victory, I’m humble in defeat,” said Paro, congratulating Hitchins. “He’s a hell of a fighter, hell of a champion. Thank God we get to go home safe to our families. It’s his moment, I don’t want to steal it from him. Richardson Hitchins, live it up.

Paro said Hitchins stuck to his game plan and executed it. “No excuses, we had a good camp. He was the better man tonight. His timing was good. We let him get set in his way. Back to the drawing board. It’s not a loss, it’s a lesson.”

Hitchins Calls Out Teofimo Lopez

Richardson Hitchins called out Teofimo Lopez for a unification fight next year. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Hitchins said, “I know how great of a fighter I am … Tonight I know I showed him I’m on a different level. When I started figuring him out, I took over.”

Hitchins said he’d now like to unify belts with Teofimo Lopez in New York. “I think that would be a big fight in 2025. I don’t belong in the ring with nobody else by the top. Brooklyn, we got a world champion!”

upset in his last appearance in Puerto Rico, taking down so-called boogeyman Subriel Matias.

Lebron Defeats Diaz in Co-Main Event

Henry Lebron prevailed against a determined Christopher Diaz by decision in their super featherweight contest Saturday at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

In the hometown co-main clash, Henry Lebron (20-0, 10 KOs) held off a spirited challenge from former WBO 130-pound title challenger Christopher Diaz (29-5, 19 KOs) for a unanimous decision win.

Lebron’s solid victory won him the vacant IBF Latino and WBO NABO titles. More importantly for his future, Lebron improved his rankings with the potential for a title fight in 2025.

The veteran Diaz once again performed well, coming to the fight in excellent condition and using his veteran skills to try and pull off the victory. The addition of Jorge Linares in his corner added insightful observations, keeping Diaz in the fight, but as Lebron rolled up rounds, Diaz needed a knockout to prevail.

Lebron not only got the win, but got a solid test he’ll learn from as he works toward more dangerous opponents.

Rivera Runs Through Gonzalez In Flyweight Fight

The ‘Little Doctor’ was in as Yankiel Rivera blew out Angel Gonzalez with surgical precision in four rounds. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera of Puerto Rico (7-0, 3 KOs) took out veteran Angel “Set It Off” Gonzalez of Florida (14-1, 7 KOs) with shocking ease, stopping Gonzalez in just three rounds to win a gaggle of minor belts. The performance makes Rivera a serious player in the flyweight division, and no doubt raised his rankings by the major sanctioning organizations.

Puerto Rico has another small division champion in the making to join Oscar Collazo in Yankiel Rivera. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

The Puerto Rican Olympian set delicious traps for his opponent with surgical precision, dropping him with a hard right hook in the first round, and continued to take it to Gonzalez with another knockdown in the fourth round, when referee Luis Pabon decided Gonzalez had taken enough heat for one night.

Prospects Castro and Hackett Suffer Upset Losses

It was a rough night for Marc Castro, suffering his first loss to Agustin Ezequiel Quintana. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Lightweight prospect Marc Castro of Fresno, California (13-1, 8 KOs) suffered an upset loss to Agustin Ezequiel Quintana of Argentina (21-1-2, 13 KOs) by majority decision. It was Castro’s first professional loss against the determined Quintana.

In prior bouts, Castro’s excellent conditioning and work rate have allowed him to outwork his opponents. Not this time. Quintana more than kept up with Castro, and found plenty of holes in his defense with is accurate power punching, rocking Castro more than once.

This time, Castro couldn’t outwork his opponent, and the Argentinean simply wanted it more as he won the final rounds to seal the win. Castro must regroup and determine how to broaden his skills to progress past the loss.

Jose Roman dealt Jalil Hackett an unexpected challenge resulting in his first loss. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Welterweight prospect Jalil “Major” Hackett of Washington DC (9-1, 7 KOs) also suffered his first professional loss. To the delight of the hometown fans, Puerto Rico’s Jose “Cheito” Roman (15-1, 6 KOs) dealt Hackett the loss in a step-up fight, winning by split decision. The scores were 96-94 on two cards for Roman and 96-94 for Hackett.

Before the fight, the 22-year-old Hackett said he wanted to test himself early, and the test proved to be a little too tough. Hearing the scores, Roman dropped to his knees, overcome with the emotion of the victory. Roman now has a three fight win streak.

After the two losses, Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said, “If you don’t want to watch prospects being tested to see if they’re hyped or not on the night, do not watch my shows. Real fights only,” as Hearn included the main event on that list.

Undercard Wins for Pineiro and Zayas

Stephanie Pineiro delivered a win for her Puerto Rican fans over late replacement Kalindra Faria, including a first round knockdown. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Puerto Rican southpaw Stephanie Pineiro (8-0, 2 KOs) delivered a first-round knockdown against late replacement Kalindra Faria of Brazil (2-3, 1 KO), cruising from there to a shutout decision win over eight rounds.

Juan Zayas made it a great night for the Puerto Rican fans with his win over Geraldo Valdez. Photo: Melina Pizano, Matchroom

Bantamweight Juan Zayas of Puerto Rico (11-0-1, 8 KOs) passed his step-up test with a decision win over Geraldo Valdez of the Dominican Republic (16-3, 11 KOs). Scores were 78-73 twice and 77-74.