Richardson Hitchins will reportedly battle former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza on December seventh on former IBF 140-lb champion Surbriel Matias’ undercard.
A Step Backwards for Hitchins?
It’s an enormous step backward for the Matchroom Boxing-promoted Hitchins, 26, to battle Pedraza as a result of he needs to be preventing contenders at 140 slightly than pale fighters.
Hitchins is coming off a controversial 12-round unanimous resolution win over Gustavo Lemos on April sixth in Las Vegas, which many followers noticed as a loss for the Brooklyn, New York native Richardson.
The scores have been 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 in favor of Hitchins. I watched the battle reside and had Lemos profitable 9-3 [117-111]. It wasn’t a detailed battle. Lemos outworked and outslugged Hitchins in that battle and had him on the run for all the 12-round contest.
The Forgotten Man?
Hitchins has an an identical model to Shakur Stevenson however with a bit of extra pop in his punches. Unusually, Hearn selected to signal Shakur to his Matchroom firm, on condition that he’s not spoken a lot about Hitchins throughout interviews. It’s nearly like he’s the forgotten man in Hearn’s steady.
In a approach, it is smart for Hitchins to be matched towards Pedraza slightly than a contender. If Hearn views Hitchins’ efficiency towards Lemos as not measuring as much as the place he must be, placing him in towards Pedraza is logical.
In Hitchins’s earlier battle towards Jose Zepeda, on September twenty third final yr, followers booed him for preventing cautiously in Orlando, Florida.
Hitchins gained the competition by a 12-round unanimous resolution however used his Shakur-esque preventing model of retreating when attacked. The followers at ringside didn’t like what they have been watching, they usually let Hitchins and his coach learn about it.
Hitchins Must Impress
If Hitchins doesn’t begin preventing with extra inspiration, Hearn may want to contemplate not renewing his contract when it’s up. Hearn doesn’t want two Shakur-like fighters as a result of it’s unhealthy sufficient to have one he must prop up.
Pedraza hasn’t gained a battle in three years since 2021 and is coming off a sixth-round knockout loss to Keyshawn Davis on February eighth in Las Vegas.
In accordance with @cesarseda, #3 WBO and #5 WBC ranked Hitchins (18-0, 7 KOs) will face the 35-year-old Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs) subsequent.
Pedraza hasn’t regarded like the identical fighter he as soon as was since shedding to Vasily Lomachenko and Jose Pedraza in 2018 and 2019. These fights appear to have taken one thing out of Pedraza becaue his report since 2020 is 3-3-1.
