Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) stunned the champion Liam Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) in the main event of a thrilling Matchroom Boxing card at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, coming away with the title via split decision live on DAZN (111-117 Paro, 116-112 Hitchins, 116-112 Hitchins).
After a slow first four rounds, Hitchins’ straight right hand began to find its mark and throughout the remainder of the fight, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native would use that punch, along with his jab, to control the distance, snapping back the Australian’s head whenever he would attempt to get inside.
Reflecting on his career achievement, Hitchins told the crowd from the ring “I’m just happy to become world champion, I’m at a loss for words. I knew today I was going to wake up and become a world champion, but I didn’t know how it was going to go.” With this victory, Hitchins joins the likes of Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, and Shannon Briggs in the rarified air of Brooklyn-born boxing champions.
“He did what I didn’t expect him to do. I knew if he came at me, it was going to be an easy night,” Hitchins said about Paro’s style this evening. “He didn't come like most opponents that come in this ring. It was a thinking thing in there and he made me think every round and I had to be sharp and that’s what I did.”
When asked about who he’d like to face next, the new champion had a fellow New Yorker on his mind for a unifying bout. “I want Teofimo [Lopez] in New York. Brooklyn, unification. I think that would be one of the biggest fights of 2025, a very lucrative fight. Like I said, I don't belong in the ring with anybody else but the top level in boxing.”
Paro was gracious following the contest, offering his respect to the new champion. “Congratulations to Richardson Hitchins. He’s a heck of a fighter and a heck of a champion, and I want to thank God we both get to go home safe to our family and loved ones… It’s back to the drawing board for me, but I’ll be back. It’s not a loss, it's a lesson. I’ll be back.”
Following the main event, Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn commented on the exciting show put on by both fighters. “I thought it was a great performance. Liam Paro brought the pressure and tried to close the distance, but Richardson did what he does very well. The jab was effective. The right hand was very effective down the middle. It was a close fight after three or four rounds, but that spell after the next several rounds, Richardson controlled the fight. The right man got the decision. It was a close fight, but I felt that Richardson was the deserving winner.”
Hearn was extremely impressed with Richardson’s performance and couldn’t hold in the pride he has for the young fighter. “It’s a big victory for him. When he came to Matchroom a couple of years ago, he was out of the game. He was inactive and didn't have any opportunities. We got him active; we got him busy; we got him into the mandatory position. Big respect to Liam Paro for taking the mandatory when he could have had a voluntary as well. This is a big win for American boxing, a big win for Brooklyn and a big win for grass roots boxing in Brooklyn as well, as he’s a product of that system. He’s a great kid, he’s an Olympian, he’s a guy that we’ve talked about on the same kind of levels as Devin, and Shakur, and Teofimo, and now he’s there.”
Fighting in his home of Puerto Rico for the first time in five years for the night’s co-featured bout, Henry “Moncho” Lebron (20-0, 10 KOs) battled fellow countryman and former WBO 130-pound title challenger, Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz (29-5, 19 KOs), to a 10-round unanimous decision (97-93, 97-93, 96-94), claiming the vacant IBF Latino 130-pound title.
Lebron showcased exceptional skill in the early rounds, using his check-right hook and straight left to keep “Pitufo” at bay. Diaz showed resilience and determination in the later rounds, landing significant power punches that energized the hometown crowd. Despite his late surge, Diaz was unable to sway the judges who favored Lebron’s dominant performance. This victory solidifies Lebron’s standing in the stacked 130-pound division.
Further action on the main card featured Puerto Rico’s own Yankiel “El Doctorcito” Rivera (7-0, 3 KOs), who took on undefeated veteran Angel “Set It Off” Gonzalez (14-1, 7 KOs) of Longwood, Fla., in a 10-round flyweight matchup. “El Doctorcito” delivered a surgical performance in front of a hometown crowd with two knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds, resulting in a fourth-round knockout victory, which boosted his undefeated streak to seven. This victory marked the third time in Rivera’s last four fights that he has ended an opponent’s undefeated record, underscoring his rising stature in the flyweight division.
When asked if he made a statement tonight, Rivera stated, “I think this fight really shows that I’m ready for any champion. I want to get closer to that world title, and now that I’ve put myself on the map with this fight. I know the champions are watching.”
With many wondering what may be next for the undefeated Puerto Rican, including the possibility of fighting for a world title belt, Rivera proclaimed, “Of course I would love that. I also have to pay respect to my team and the people who manage me. I always respect my promoters, my manager, they're part of the team. When they believe that it’s the right time to do it, I’ll be happy to do it.”
Kicking off the main card, unbeaten prospect Marc Castro (13-1, 8 KOs) of Fresno, Calif., squared off against former South American champion Agustin “Sugar” Quintana (21-1-2, 13 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a 10-round bout contested at a catchweight just above the 135-pound limit. Quintana and Castro battled in a back-and-forth affair, but it was Quintana who pulled out the upset victory via split-decision (97-93 Quintana, 96-94 Castro, 96-94 Quintana).
Headlining “Before The Bell" was a matchup of undefeated prospects William Ortiz (7-0, 4 KOs) and Lionell Omar Colon (6-1, 3 KOs), both from Puerto Rico, in an eight-round 140-pound bout. Ortiz continued to shine in his young career as he wore out his counterpart Colon en route to a unanimous decision win (80-72, 80-72, 80-72), marking his seventh straight victory to open up his professional career.
Further action on the undercard featured Jalil “Major” Hackett (9-1, 7 KOs) of Washington, D.C., against Bayamon, Puerto Rico’s Jose “Cheito” Roman (14-1, 6 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the WBA Continental Americas Welterweight title. Ten years older than his opponent, the 31-year-old Roman came away with the split-decision upset (96-94 Roman, 94-96 Hackett, 96-94 Roman) over the previously unbeaten Hackett. Roman utilized a ferocious attack to the body to wear down the younger man, a strategy that was visibly effective in the fight’s closing rounds.
Puerto Rico’s own Juan “Juancito” Zayas (11-0-1, 8 KOs) registered a unanimous decision win (78-73, 78-73, 77-74) overpower puncher Geraldo Valdez (16-3, 11 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in an eight-round bantamweight affair. With the triumph, “Juancito” completed a perfect 2024, going 3-0 on the year, all by decision.
In the opening bout of the evening, unbeaten WBA Continental Americas and WBO International Welterweight title holder, Stephanie Pineiro (8-0, 2 KOs) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico squared off against Kalindra Faria (2-3) of São Paulo, Brazil in an eight-round women's welterweight fight. The bout went the distance and Pineiro secured a dominant, unanimous decision victory (80-71, 80-71, 80-71) over Faria, who filled in on short notice.
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