Richardson Hitchins was crowned the new IBF super lightweight champion at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as he took a split decision win against Liam Paro, who was defeated in the first defence of his title.
Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) dethroned then-IBF champion, Subriel Matias in June, taking a clear points win to become the new belt-holder. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) earned his shot by defeating Gustavo Daniel Lemos on points in April.
Paro began well, using a lot of pressure, and his work to the body in the opener was particularly impressive.
Hitchins began to warm to his task, and landed with several decent right hands in the second, and his jab was working to good effect in round three.
After a competitive fourth, the Brooklyn started to let his hands go, and he found his rhythm, as the bout passed the halfway mark.
The 27-year-old’s work behind the jab was paying off, with a nice combination landing in round nine, and he was making Paro miss and fall short whenever the Aussie attempted to go on the attack.
The pattern continued pretty much until the final bell, where the outcome looked straightforward.
One judge inexplicably had Paro a 117-111 winner, but two scores of 116-112 thankfully gave the right verdict, and the American was crowned the new champion.
Hitchins called for a unification clash with WBO champion and fellow New Yorker, Teofimo Lopez.
“I want Teofimo in New York, Brooklyn, unification,” he told DAZN post-fight.
“I think that would be one of the biggest fights in 2025.
“A very lucrative fight. A very big fight.
“I don’t belong in the ring with nobody else but the top level in boxing.”
Castro and Hackett stunned
Marc Castro suffered a first professional defeat, as the lightweight dropped a shock split decision to Argentina’s Agustin Ezequiel Quintana (21-2-1, 13 KOs).
Castro (13-1, 8 KOs) was awarded one score of 96-94, but two tallies of 97-93 in Quintana’s favour saw him take the surprise win.
There was another upset at welterweight, where Jalil Hackett lost his unbeaten record with a split decision defeat against Jose Roman Vazquez.
Hackett (9-1, 7 KOs) faded down the stretch over the ten rounds, and Vazquez (14-1, 6 KOs) secured the upset with two scores of 96-94, with the third judge scoring the same for Hackett.
Rivera stops Gonzalez
Yankiel Rivera successfully defended his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title, and added the vacant WBC Silver belt, as he scored a fourth round stoppage win against Angel Gonzalez.
A pair of left hands from Rivera (7-0, 3 KOs) had Gonzalez (14-1, 7 KOs) on the deck in the fourth and the referee called the bout off, despite the American getting to his feet.
IT’S ALL OVER ⚔️🔥 Yankiel Rivera dominates in 🇵🇷#ParoHitchins | Live NOW on DAZN pic.twitter.com/RTG2J4PLib
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 8, 2024
Lebron sees off Diaz-Velez
At super featherweight, Henry Lebron took the IBF Latino and WBO NABO titles by outpointing former world title challenger, Christopher Diaz-Velez (29-5, 19 KOs).
Two scores of 97-93, and a third at 96-94 ensured Lebron (20-0, 10 KOs) went home with the belts.
Remaining Undercard
In eight rounders, bantamweight hope Juan Zayas (11-0-1, 8 KOs) took a points win over Geraldo Valdez (16-3, 11 KOs) and at super lightweight, William Ortiz (7-0, 4 KOs) pitched a shutout, taking all eight rounds against Lionell Colon (6-1, 3 KOs).
Stephanie Pineiro (8-0, 2 KOs) also remained unbeaten, taking an 80-71 win on all three cards against Kalinda Faria (2-3).
