Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing promote a card at Fontainebleu in Las Vegas this Saturday evening, and rising stars are at the head of affairs. In the main event, Richardson Hitchins takes on fellow unbeaten Gustavo Daniel Lemos in a final eliminator for the IBF super lightweight title.
DAZN televise Hitchins vs Lemos live worldwide.
Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) has learned his craft well since turning over in 2017, and has been the ten round distance on no less than five occasions.
2023 saw a rise in class for the New Yorker, and he began by dropping John Bauza twice on the way to a landslide points win over ten in February.
The 26-year-old would then round off his year in September, going the championship distance for the first time in routing former three-time world title challenger, Jose Zepeda on the scorecards in Orlando.
Argentina’s Lemos (29-0, 19 KOs) now stands in Hitchins’ way of a world title shot against IBF champion, Subriel Matias.
The 28-year-old Argentinian is on a run of ten straight early wins, and has only been ten rounds once.
His best victory as a professional was a fifth round stoppage of former world champion, Lee Selby in Buenos Aires in March 2022, but he has only boxed once since, a one round blowout of Javier Jose Clavero in December 2023.
Prediction: Hitchins has matured into a really tough nut to crack, and with Lemos not adept to fighting outside of his homeland, I suspect Hitchins can take a clear points win, and move closer towards a shot at world honours.
Pacheco looks to close in on world title shot
Another hot prospect in action here is Diego Pacheco and the heavy-handed American defends his WBC USA and WBO International super middleweight titles against Shawn McCalman.
Pacheco (20-0, 17 KOs) fought three times in 2023, stopping Jack Cullen in four in Liverpool in March, and Manuel Gallegos in the same round in July.
In his last outing, the 23-year-old, who is ranked at five with the WBC behind undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez, was tested by Marcelo Coceres before finding the power to take a ninth round knockout win.
McCalman (15-0, 7 KOs) is unbeaten, but takes part in a twelve rounder for the first time, having not been past eight round level before. His last appearance was in December 2023, winning all eight rounds against Cristian Olivas.
Prediction: Pacheco has operated at a much higher level than McCalman, and this should show here. I expect Pacheco to get the job done before halfway in this one.
Nicolson vies for world title against Mahfoud
There’s world title action on the bill, with Skye Nicholson, who has previously served as WBC Interim champion, going for the vacant WBC featherweight title against Sarah Mahfoud.
Mahfoud (14-1, 3 KOs) has only lost to Amanda Serrano in a bid for the unified belts in 2022 with the Puerto Rican relinquishing the belt in December after the WBC refused to agree to her request of 12 three-minute rounds, the same as men’s boxing.
Prediction: Nicolson (9-0, 1 KOs) can become the new champion with a points win.
Remaining Undercard
Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) continues his professional education, and the 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist can defend his WBC International flyweight title with a stoppage win against Argentine, Agustin Mauro Gauto (21-1, 15 KOs).
Marc Castro (11-0, 8 KOs) goes for his first title, and he can take the vacant WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title with a win on the scorecards against Abraham Montoya (22-5-1, 14 KOs).
FIRST FACE OFF 👀 @galal_yafai vs Agustin Gauto
🛡️ WBC International Flyweight Title#YafaiGauto | @DAZNBoxing | #HitchinsLemos pic.twitter.com/9yxfmUkddh
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 4, 2024
In six rounders, Harley Mederos (5-0, 4 KOs) can bank a points win against Pedro Vicente Scharbaai (7-6-1, 2 KOs) at lightweight, and super flyweight debutant Steven Navarro should do the same against Jose Lopez (4-2-3).
