Richardson Hitchins silenced his skeptics in the most important fight of his life on Saturday night.
Junior welterweight from Brooklyn, top-class Australian southpaw Liam Paro won a split decision to take the IBF 140-pound title in a 12-round DAZN main event broadcast from the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) edged Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) by the same score, 116-112, on the cards of judges Frank Lombardi and Carlo Zappia, but settled for a split decision as referee Nelson Vasquez questionably scored nine rounds for Paro, 117-111.
Hitchins, who was the mandatory challenger for Paro’s championship, was a slight underdog going into his first world title fight. The odds mirrored their previous performances – Paro’s unanimous points defeat of Puerto Rican puncher Subriel Matias (21-2, 21 KOs) on June 15 and Hitchins’ unimpressive unanimous decision loss to Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos (29-2, 19 KOs). ) on April 6.
The smarter, sharper Hitchins redeemed himself by clearly beating Paro, who was growing frustrated as the rounds wore on, and Hitchins built his lead to two scores.
By the time they reached 12th round, it was clear to everyone but Vazquez that Parr would need a knockout to retain the title. Hitchins remained disciplined throughout those final three minutes, however, and secured a career-changing victory.
Paro simply couldn’t deal with Hitchins’ straight right and had difficulty catching his athletic, elusive opponent with his left. That pattern played out throughout the championship rounds, only it happened during the second half of their match.
Paro was booked by referee Jenny Guzman for intentionally hitting Hitchins in the back of the head just after the middle of the 10th.th round. Paro’s frustration was understandable as Hitchins took control of the action in the ninth and 10th.th rounds that he clearly won.
A disciplined Hitchins continued to catch Paro with rights that knocked him off balance in an effective eighth round for the newly crowned champion. Paro tried to get inside, but Hitchins deftly kept his distance and fought from the desired range.
The sharper Hitchins caught Paro with a straight right that sent Paro backwards with just under 40 seconds on the clock in the seventh round. Hitchins landed two hard shots to the body after hitting Paro with that flush up top and was the busier combo in the seventh round.
Hitchins remained in control throughout the sixth round. He kept his right hand down consistently throughout those three minutes as Paro pressed forward.
Hitchins regained command in the fifth round with a landing of right hands that got Parr’s attention. A right to the body from Hitchins near the end of the fifth round floored Paro.
Paro made adjustments during the third and fourth rounds and made his contest competitive after Hitchins’ success in the first two rounds. The wily Paro stepped around Hitchins’ left leg several times and landed right hooks in those two rounds, but also kept Hitchins honest with straight lefts while feinting and changing range. Hitchins was assertive as soon as their fight began, striking out consistently and occasionally catching Paro with straight rights in the first two rounds.