Liam Paro vs Richardson Hitchins Predictions: Underrated champion meets touted prospect

Liam Paro defends his IBF super lightweight title this Saturday, December 7 against unbeaten prospect Richardson Hitchins. The fight headlines at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. DAZN will broadcast the event live.

Here are my Paro vs Hitchins predictions ahead of a night where someone’s 0 must go.

Super lightweight is an exciting division at the moment, with a number of fighters jockeying for position. 

Jack Catterall is on the cusp of a shot at one of the three incumbent champions and will possibly fight fellow unbeaten man Arnold Barboza Jr to secure one. Devin Haney has vacated his title but remains a threat. Teofimo Lopez leads the way as The Ring and WBO champion. Jose Valenzuela is a fine WBA kingpin. The likes of Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez, Alberto Puello and Subriel Matias are all lingering. 

It is from that talented field that Paro and Hitchins emerge. Two of the best 140-pounders on the planet, the IBF title is a worthy prize as these men look to cut one another’s unbeaten records short. This looks a close fight on paper, one to truly savour for the discerning boxing fan.

Paro is coming into his own at the elite level. The Aussie negotiated wins over fringe contenders like Yomar Alamo and Montana Love as he cleared a path to a title opportunity. Paro was a distant outsider, not least because he had to head to then-champion Subriel Matias’ Puerto Rico backyard to fight for the title.

Paro stunned Matias, the crowd and the boxing world with a rousing display to lift the famous red belt. A thoroughly-deserved unanimous decision saw Paro complete what many thought was impossible.

First defences don’t come much tougher than this. Hitchins has been tipped for stardom for a while and has amassed an 18-0 record in search of it. This fight feels like the perfect tipping point for the New Yorker. Too good to remain a well-kept secret, too tenured to stay a prospect. It is time for the boy to become a man.

Some would say there was a lack of maturity in his last performance. Hitchins was awarded a unanimous nod against Gustavo Lemos back in April. But the 27-year-old appeared mightily fortunate to receive such princely scorecards as 117-111 and two helpings of 115-113. 

Lemos pressured Hitchins early and often, with the Brooklynite’s usual recourse being to hold rather than engage. There were periods of smooth boxing and the sort of skills we have grown accustomed to watching the young man. But more often than not, Lemos looked like the more confident fighter.

Alas, the scorecards stung for those of us who bemoan the sport’s frustrating lack of credulity. Hitchins is lucky to have secured this shot. Charitably, you could argue he should at least have given Lemos a rematch. More bluntly, one could argue Lemos should be getting this title shot, having convinced so strongly against Hitchins that a rematch was not even necessary.

But what’s done is done and you cannot judge the entirety of a fighter based on one dark night of the soul. Hitchins comes to Puerto Rico, home of Paros’ greatest triumph, with a very good chance of taking a maiden world title.

Hitchins’ career is perhaps viewed more through the prism of potential than accomplishment. He holds wins over ex-world champions Argenis Mendez and Jose Zepeda as well as unbeaten prospect John Bauza. But one could argue the former pair were past their best and the latter was not all that he cracked up to be.

Perhaps his finest victory is an interesting contrast with Paro. Hitchins stopped contender Yomar Alamo in eight rounds back in November 2022. The year before, Paro had gone 10 rounds with ‘The Magic’, picking up a split decision.

Detractors use the Lemos fight to prove their theory that Hitchins will wilt under firmer tests. We will find out on Saturday night. Paro is a true champion and a fine fighter. Hitchins will have to be at his very best to beat him.

Paro vs Hitchins Fight Odds

Paro is 5/6 to get the job done while Hitchins is 20/21. It really is that close. The draw, not outside the realms in this one, is 14/1.

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Paro vs Hitchins Predictions

Paro’s win over Matias was better than anything Hitchins has shown in his career so far. But I feel like the ceiling on the American’s talent is higher than that of the Aussie. The Lemos fight didn’t look great for him, but Hitchins is better than he showed that night.

I can see his slickness and ring generalship taking the play away from Paro. It could be another close one, but I feel the 27-year-old has learned some lessons. If he can park the mauling and focus on cleaner shots thrown from distance, I like Hitchins here. He is 20/21 to win by any method. 

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