Richardson Hitchins is ready to pick the game plan that IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro and his trainer have devised for his fight this Saturday. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) already knows what Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) will try to do against him, and he will adapt to it by using his boxing skills to show that he is at its level.
Paro will defend against Hitchins on Saturday, December 7 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
Decode Paro’s strategy
Hitchins, 27, says Paro’s recent victory over IBF champion Surbriel Matias was made easier because he fought with an identical style. Therefore, it was not a big problem for him to solve the pressure that Matias put on him.
“How excited are you to realize that on Saturday night you have a chance to become world champion?” said Eddie Hearn to Richardson Hitchins during today’s final press conference for his title fight against IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro this Saturday night.
“It’s definitely a surreal moment. It’s not as surprising as 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 it would be,” said Richardson Hitchins.
“Now that I’m more experienced in the sport, I’ve shown that I’m at a 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.
“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 that my type of boxing will be accepted anywhere else but on the world stage. I’m not the kind of guy where you see my fights in the club shows. I belong on this stage, next to Eddie Hearn, fighting the best fighters because that’s the talent I bring to the sport.
“On Saturday night, I showed it again,” Hitchins said.
“You always talk about your levels above your opponents. Do you even believe your levels above Liam Paro? said Hearn 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 has to do as a professional, but when it comes to being on a world stage, I don’t think he has the tools you own,” Hitchins said.
“The fight with Matias, I said earlier during the face-off, he fought guys like that before they showed up. A lot of guys actually that he beat were the ones who showed up and put the pressure on. He fought a guy Japanese that put the same pressure that Matias did. He and his trainer said, “We have to box circles.” So they had their game plan for Matias.
“With me, his approach is totally different. You here, Liam, you say, he’s going to hurt me,” Hitchins said.
