Promoter Eddie Hearn has named Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haynie as targets for newly crowned IBF light heavyweight champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 7 KOs) for his next fight following his 12-round split decision win over undefeated champion Liam Parr (25 ). -1, 15 KO) last Saturday night at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Paro fought in the Madrimov style, using feints and upper body movement to try and fool Hitchins. This style was effective for the first four rounds, but after Hitchins decoded it, it became one-sided from the fifth.
Calling Out The Stars
The chances of Ryan, Teofimo and Haney agreeing to fight Hitchins are slim to none. Those guys will NOT want to fight a talent like Hitchins and get thrown out the same way he did against Paro. That’s not realistic.
Hitchins outclassed Paro easily, taking a close fight through four and dominating the final eight rounds. Herr said after the fight that he saw it as an 8-4 or 7-5 win for Hitchins.
Results
116-112: Hitchins
117-111: Paro
116-112: Hitchins
Unless His Excellency Turki Alalshik steps in to entice Hani, Teofim or Ryan to fight Hitchins, he’ll have to be content defending his IBF 140lb title against a lesser name in the division because those guys won’t agree to fight him.
Steam vs. Hitchins Punch Stats
– Richardson Hitchins: 15 of 408 shots for a 28% connect rate.
– Liam Parro: 113 out of 490 for 23%
“Yes, why not?” “I don’t think you can base your career around Ryan Garcia at the moment, but it’s a big fight, he’s a big name and he’s a big fighter,” Eddie Hearn told the media after Richardson Hitchins’ victory over Liam Parr. Saturday night.
“So Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haynie,” Hearn continued of the fighters he’d like Hitchins to face next. “There are some guys at 135 that will eventually move up. You talk about Liam potentially fighting with (George) Kambosos. Why not Richardson v Kambosos? And they ate their beef. Jack Catterall. We have so many guys (in Matchroom who can take on Hitchins). Subriel Matias, yes, for sure.”
Of the names Hearn mentioned above, former IBF champion Subriel Matias, the boogeiman of the 140lb division, is the most likely one he can get for Hitchins. He won’t want to sacrifice British fighter Jack Catterall because he is pushing him to challenge WBO champion Teofimo Lopez for his belt. Caterall would be fodder for Hitchins.
Tactical Battle
“I think he was one of the toughest guys I fought. Bouncing and European style,” Hitchins said of the pair. “When I got in the ring, I was like, ‘Oh, sh***. This is like being abroad again.’ I’m glad I got the amateur experience to see guys like that.
“So I kind of knew what to do. I was like (Israel) Madrimov and Terence Crawford with bouncing and feinting. There was a lot of finto and a lot of subtle things that he did there. So I think he’s been one of the toughest guys I’ve gone up against,” Hitchins said of Parr.
Paro appeared to have studied the style of former WBA 154lb champion Israil Madrimov and used that approach in his fight against Hitchins. Paro would have had more success if he had used Gustavo Lemos’ method of total attacks. Oddly, Paro didn’t follow Lemos’s plan and instead tried to oust Hitchins. Using that approach, he gave every chance to win.
Interestingly, Hearn didn’t seem too happy after the fight, suggesting he was hoping Paro would win. Ahead of the Paro-Hitchins fight last Saturday, Hearn talked about the potential pairing of Paro against Kambosos in the big event in Australia. That fight is no longer possible after last night.
