Mandatory challenger Richardson Hitchins weighed in at 139.8lbs and IBF welterweight champion Liam Parro weighed in at 139.6lbs on Friday at their weigh-ins for Saturday’s contest at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(Credit: Melina Pisano/Matchroom)
Hitchins (19-0, 7KOs) looked like he was carved from stone with his figure cut like a statue. In contrast, Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) didn’t look as well dressed and had dark circles under both eyes, suggesting he had a restless night, perhaps worried about the risky fight ahead.
Paro, 28, cannot afford to lose this fight as he has a big-money match against another Aussie, George Kamboos, considered next if he wins.
“It is a time of crisis. The conversation is over. I’m ready to go in there and put on a show,” said Liam Paro after the weigh-ins. “I’m one dream away from finding out what it’s all about.”
“This is great.” I belong to the world class. My talent doesn’t belong anywhere else. “If I was fighting any kind of different competition, it would be kind of bullying,” Richardson Hitchins said.
“I should be fighting the best guys in the world, because the fans would call it any way. I want to thank Eddie Hearn for giving me this opportunity. There were no easy fights to reach the world title. I earned my place to reach the world title.
“I wasn’t a No. 2 or No. 3 guy and Eddie called me and asked if I’d like to fight for a world title. I had to earn my place, and I did. For the fans out there, I’m finally here. I’ve finally made it to the championship, and tomorrow night we’ll have a great performance and I’ll continue to show the world what got me here. That I’m an all around great fighter,” Hitchins said.
