Mandatory challenger Richardson Hitchins weighed in at 139.8 pounds, and IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro came in at 139.6 pounds on Friday at his weigh-in for Saturday’s contest at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Hitchins (19-0, 7KOs) looked like he was carved from stone with his physique cut like a statue. In contrast, Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) didn’t look as well trained and had dark circles under both eyes, suggesting he had some restless nights, perhaps worried about the risky fight ahead of him.
Paro, 28, cannot afford to lose this fight because he has a big money match against fellow Australian, George Kambosos, who has been floated as the next match if he is victorious.
“It’s crunch time. The talking is done. I’m ready to get in there and put on a show,” Liam Paro said after weighing in. “I’m one sleep away from finding out what they’re all about.”
“This is great. I belong on the world stage. My talent doesn’t belong anywhere else. If I were to fight any kind of different competition, it would be kind of bullying,” said Richardson Hitchins.
“I’m supposed to fight the best guys in the world, because the fans called it anyway. I want to thank Eddie Hearn for giving me this opportunity. There was no easy fight to get a world title. I won the my place to reach the world title.
“I wasn’t like a #2 or #3 man and Eddie called me and asked me if I would like to fight for a world title. I had to earn my place, and that’s what I did. For the fans out there, I’m finally here, and tomorrow night, I’m going to put on a great performance and I’m going to continue to show the world what got me here Hitchins.
