Richardson Hitchins relieved Liam Paro of his IBF super lightweight title with a classy split decision victory (116-112 x2, 111-117) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
While judge Nelson Vazquez seemingly watched a completely different fight, Hitchins was a deserved winner after a composed and skilful performance.
Paro had started the better of the pair but Hitchins worked into the fight, keeping the Australian at bay with sharp jabs and straight right hands.
“I was just hoping that they didn’t rob me,” Hitchins told DAZN after the bout.
“Once I figured out the timing on the right hand, I started taking over. I knew I was going to get him.
“Tonight, I showed him I’m on a different level.”
After a slow and watchful opening four rounds, Hitchins' corner implored him to get more aggressive and he responded well, timing his southpaw opponent's entries with shots from the outside.
Hitchins, the rangier of the pair, was able to get the contest largely on his terms through the second half, limiting Paro's ability to close the distance and ensuring it remained a tactical boxing match, rather than a messy fight.
Paro, who was returning to Puerto Rico where he’d upset Subriel Matias to win the title back in June, paid credit to Hitchins for his performance.
“He’s a hell of a fighter, hell of a champion,” Paro said post-fight.
“No excuses, we had a good camp, he was the better man tonight.
“We let him get set in his way and that was it. I’ll be back. It’s not a loss, it’s a lesson.”
The new world champion was quick to table a potential fight with WBO titleholder, and fellow New Yorker, Teofimo Lopez.
“I want Teofimo, in New York, Brooklyn. Unification,” he said.
“I think that would be one of the biggest fights in 2025.”
The win takes Hitchins to 19-0, while Paro tastes defeat for the first time and slips to 25-1.
In the chief support, Henry Lebron scored a close but decisive unanimous decision win over Christopher Diaz.
Fighting mostly on the back foot in front of a determined Diaz, Lebron racked up a nice lead on the cards through the first half of the fight, giving himself enough of a buffer to hold off his fast-finishing opponent.
Earlier, Yankiel Rivera continued his rise up the flyweight rankings with an impressive fourth-round stoppage victory over Angel Gonzalez.
The Puerto Rican dropped the previously undefeated Gonzalez with a hard counter right hook in the third and put him on the canvas two more times in the fourth before the referee had seen enough.
To kick off the main card, Agustin Quintana claimed a hard-fought upset win over Marc Castro following an entertaining 10 rounds at lightweight.
Here's how it all went down at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Liam Paro vs. Richardson Hitchins fight updates and results
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
| Paro | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 113 |
| Hitchins | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 115 |
Round 12: Paro on the front foot but Hitchins keeping out of trouble. Paro now has a mouse under his left eye. Hitchins not afraid to trade but neither man able to land anything hugely significant.
Round 11: Paro comes out fast but eats some shots on the way in. The rear-hand counter is landing for Hitchins. Paro does land a power left to keep Hitchins honest. The challenger handles the pressure well and maybe even wins the round.
Round 10: Paro's team now calling for more action. The Aussie just can't get inside at the moment and Hitchins is winning the battle at range. Good jab lands for the challenger. Paro warned over a back-of-the-head shot, Hitchins not happy. Now he scores with the rear hand. Paro needs the last two probably.
Round 9: Hitchins looking confident now as he follows and finds the champ with a sharp right hand. Paro may need to change things up a bit here. Hitchins gets that one.
Round 8: A slower round but Paro lands a big left as it enters the final minute. Hitchins continues to score with long punches. Not a clear round, Paro the bigger shots but Hitchins probably landing more.
Round 7: Hitchins doing a good job of keeping Paro off him at the moment, popping out jabs and straight rights. We have a short break as some loose tape is cut off Paro's glove. Less action on both sides but Hitchins finds the target with a hard right hand to swing the momentum and round his way.
Round 6: Paro scores with a power shot. These exchanges are getting more regular. It feels like a big punch isn't far away. Hitchins lands a counter right. A left hook also scores shortly after. Close one for Hitchins.
Round 5: Hitchins' team are calling for more purpose and activity. He responds with a crisp straight right hand to get Paro's attention. More action in this round, both guys having their moments. A bit of damage showing on Paro's nose. Hitchins' mouth bloodied.
Round 4: Paro loads up on a wide left hand after backing his man up but just misses. Each lands a counter hook in a flurry. Another power shot winged by Paro and Hitchins clinches. Paro again backs him up and catches the guard with a big left. Busy end to a close round. Could go either way but the champion gets it for us on the back of activity and aggression.
Round 3: Nice left hand gets through for Paro. The fight taking place at range for the most part. The pair briefly tangle up on the ropes. Paro not able to get inside consistently yet. Pushes Hitchins back with a right hook to probably steal the round after the New Yorker scored with the jab.
Round 2: Paro jabbing to the body but Hitchins lands one of his own upstairs. Hitchins gets off a couple sharp counter right hands in close. Hitchins waiting on the counter mostly at the moment. Close round for the challenger.
Round 1: Cagey start. Paro the aggressor early. Hitchins watchful. The champ lands a straight left down the pipe. Hitchins clinches up a couple of times. Another left for Paro finds the target. Solid round from the champion.
10:15pm ET: Both fighters are in the ring, it's go time!
9:50pm ET: Main event up next, follow along with our unofficial scorecard.
Henry Lebron claims UD win over Christopher Diaz
(97-93 x2, 96-94)
Diaz turned up the pressure through the final rounds but Lebron, who was dealing with a cut from a head clash, did enough to secure a well-earned victory.
9:24pm ET: Five rounds in the books between Henry Lebron and Christoper Diaz. Lebron on top but not dominating so far.
Yankiel Rivera stops Angel Gonzalez in round four
Rivera's stocks continue to rise with an impressive dismantling of the previously undefeated Angel Gonzalez.
Just seven fights into his pro career, the future looks bright for Rivera.
8:30pm ET: Yankiel Rivera scores a big knockdown on Angel Gonzalez via a sharp counter right hook midway through the third round.
Gonzalez seemed to recover well enough but found himself on the canvas again early in the fourth.
Rivera kept the pressure on a forced the stoppage late in the round.
Agustin Quintana upsets Marc Castro in split decision
(97-93, 94-96, 96-94)
Quintana scored a hard-fought win over the more-fancied, and previously unbeaten, Castro to open the main card.
7:30pm ET: The main card is underway, with four rounds down between Marc Castro and Agustin Quintana.
How to watch Liam Paro vs. Richardson Hitchins
- Live Stream: DAZN
Liam Paro vs. Richardson Hitchins will air live on DAZN.
WATCH: Liam Paro vs. Richardson Hitchins, live on DAZN
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Liam Paro vs Richardson Hitchins fight card
Bouts and order subject to change.
- Richardson Hitchins def. Liam Paro via UD12 (117-111, 116-112 x2) for the IBF super lightweight title
- Henry Lebron def. Christopher Diaz via UD10 (97-93 x2, 96-94)
- Yankiel Rivera def. Angel Gonzalez via TKO4
- Agustin Ezequiel Quintana def. Marc Castro via SD10 (97-93, 94-96, 96-94)
- William Ortiz def. Lionell Omar Colon via UD8 (80-72 x3)
- Jose Roman def. Jalil Hackett via SD10 (96-94 x2, 94-96)
- Juan Zayas def. Geraldo Valdez via UD8 (78-73 x2, 77-74)
- Stephanie Pineiro def. Kalindra Faria via UD8 (80-71 x3)
- Carlos De Leon vs. Jose Guevara; super featherweight (float)
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