Hitchins vs Lemos Predictions: Only the strong survive in this unbeaten eliminator

Richardson Hitchins clashes with a fellow unbeaten fighter this Saturday, April 6 as he takes on Gustavo Daniel Lemos. Fontainebleau in Las Vegas hosts this IBF super welterweight championship eliminator with DAZN screening the action. Here are my Hitchins vs Lemos predictions as two prospects battle for a shot at Subriel Matias’ IBF crown.

Rio 2016 Olympian Hitchins has been almost flawless in the pro ranks since turning over the year after the summer Games. Tre’Sean Wiggins dropped him in his seventh outing, but Hitchins rose to dominate on the scorecards. Those sort of formative experiences are important for a young fighter, as long as they don’t become habitual. Thankfully for Hitchins, nobody has sent him to the canvas since while he has amassed a 17-0 pro record.

The New Yorker moved up in levels last time out, taking on former world title challenger Jose Zepeda. Hitchins won every round against the Californian, though he was unable to close the show. Dalton Smith recently knocked Zepeda out in five rounds in Sheffield, but Hitchins was the first man to defeat him outside of a world title fight. 

The fact Smith closed the show and Hitchins didn’t is little surprise given their respective styles. ‘Thunder’ has knocked out 12 of his 16 foes while Hitchins has stopped seven of his 17 opponents. Styles make fights and while Smith’s win looks better on a highlight reel, keeping Zepeda under the cosh for 12 rounds was still a mighty performance from Hitchins. 

He’ll need a mighty performance here. Zepeda was a big name on the wane while Lemos is a fellow star on the rise. British fans will remember the Argentine as the man who ended the career of Wales’ former world champion Lee Selby. Lemos demolished the Barry boy in five rounds, establishing himself on the world stage while ending the career of a former titleholder. 

Lemos has fought just once in the two years since. That activity took the form of a one-round destruction of countryman Javier Clavero. While the result could not have been better, the fact it represents the only ring time Lemos has enjoyed for two years is a worry. 

Hitchins has fought four times over the same period, keeping active during his bid for world title honours. Will the New Yorker’s sharpness play a part in the outcome here? It certainly can’t hurt. But what can hurt is the sharp, lightning-fast raids that Hitchins employs as a trademark. A jab, a jolting right hand and he’s gone. The American is no power puncher, but his style is crowd-pleasingly attack-minded.

Lemos is a front-foot fighter, barreling forward, throwing with both hands and worrying little for what comes his way. This should make for an entertaining fight but will likely prove his downfall. Hitchins is just too precise and considered in his work while Lemos, while effective, is incredibly wild. This is a match-up in which one combatant is wielding a rapier and the other a meat tenderizer. 

Hitchins’ accuracy will prove too much for his wilful but under-equipped foe. The American by decision is priced up at 8/13 and I feel convinced this is the direction of travel. Lemos is too brave and energetic to fall foul inside the distance, especially against a boxer of limited power. But Hitchins has studied the pugilistic texts in enough detail to outbox and outfox his opponent. Hitchins via the judges is the pick.

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