Richardson Hitchins is ready to dissect the game plan devised by IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro and his trainer for their fight this Saturday. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) already knows what Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) will try to do to him and he will adapt to it by using his boxing skills to show that he is at its level.
Paro defends against Hitchins on Saturday, December 7 at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
Decoding Paro’s strategy
Hitchins, 27, says Paro’s recent victory over IBF champion Surbriel Matias was made easier because he has fought guys with an identical style. So it wasn’t a big problem for him to solve the pressure Matias put on him.
“How excited are you to realize that on Saturday night you have a chance to become world champion?” Eddie Hearn told Richardson Hitchins during the day’s final press conference for his title fight against IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro on Saturday night.
“It’s definitely a surreal moment. It’s not as surprising as it was when I first signed with you. When I first signed with you, I always thought I couldn’t wait for my first title fight, and how would it be,” said Richardson Hitchins.
“Now that I’m more seasoned in the sport, I’ve shown that I’m at world title level since I first signed with you. I’ve always come into fights in shape. I’ve always shown that I’m an all-around fighter .
“I’ve been on the world stage. Now it’s time to show the world that this is the only place I belong. I feel like my type of boxing will be accepted anywhere but on the world stage. I’m not one to where you’ll see my fights in club shows I belong at this stage, alongside Eddie Hearn, fighting the best fighters because that’s the talent I bring to the sport.
“Saturday night I’ll show it again,” Hitchins said.
“You always talk about your levels above your opponents. Do you also believe in your levels above Liam Paro?” Hearn said to Hitchins. “He’s also coming off an incredible win. I know you respect him, but do you think you’re too good for him?”
“I respect Liam Paro because he treats the sport like a professional. He comes ready. He does everything he needs to do as a professional, but when it comes to being on the world stage, I don’t believe he has the tools I possess,” Hitchins said.
“The fight with Matias, I told him before during the face-off, he fought guys before they came forward. A lot of guys that he fought were the ones who came forward and put pressure. He fought a Japanese guy who put the same pressure that Matias did. Him and his trainer said: ‘We’re going to box circles.’ So they had their game plan for Matias.
“With me, their approach is completely different. You here say Liam, he’s going to make me hard,” Hitchins said.
