Hitchins Beats Paro by Split Decision. What’s Next for the New Champion?

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Richardson Hitchins remained undefeated after a nip-and-tuck affair last Saturday in Puerto Rico. He won by a split decision over the defending champion Liam Paro, taking his record to 19-0 and collecting his first world title in a stacked 140lbs division.

The scorecards read 117-111 Paro (Nelson Vazquez), 116-112 Hitchins (Carl Zappia), and 116-112 Hitchins (Frank Lombardi). Liam Paro had won the IBF title in his last bout against Subriel Mattias in June, but Hitchins proved to be a much stronger challenge. In the first three rounds, Paro out-landed Hitchins and looked to set the pace for the rest of the fight. With a right cross jab, Hitchins, in the fourth, stumbled the defending champion to the left, and from then on, Hitchins grew in confidence round by round showing his championship pedigree and elite boxing style.

What’s next for the new champion?

In the post-fight media scrum, the Brooklyn star mentioned several names in and around his division. One name that will whet the appetite for the UK fans is Jack Catterall, universally known as the uncrowned, undisputed champion of the world. There may also be options to unify with other champions at the weight class, like WBC belt holder and another undefeated boxer, Alberto Puello(23-0), who won his version in June.

There is also WBO champion and fellow Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez. Hitchins knows he is with the best promoter in the business and says Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn will “go for the biggest fish” when it comes to his next fight; therefore, the Lopez fight makes perfect sense for all involved. However, Teofimo Lopez may well be stepping up to welterweight to challenge another Matchroom fighter, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, for his IBF crown. With nothing yet confirmed, promoter Hearn will likely table more than one offer for the former undisputed champion at 13lbs, who Top Rank and Bob Arum promote.