By Vince D’Writer: Undefeated super-lightweight contender Richardson Hitchins wants to take his career to the next level, and on Saturday, September 23rd, he has a chance to capitalize on a big opportunity when he faces former three-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda (37-3, 28 KOs) at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida at 8 p.m. ET live on DAZN.
(Photo credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom)
The 25-year-old Hitchins is a technically skilled boxer who is a sharp puncher and has excellent timing, good speed, and a high ring IQ. He’s confident in his ability as a boxer, and he believes he’s ready to take on the elite in the 140-pound division.
When he turned pro back in 2017, Richardson Hitchins signed with Mayweather Promotions. After winning his first fourteen fights within a five-year span, Hitchins felt as though his career had gaps of inactivity, and once his contract expired, he decided to go in a different direction.
In September 2022, Richardson Hitchins made a major career move when he parted ways with Mayweather Promotions and signed on with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. Two months later, Hitchins was competing inside the squared circle as he easily outclassed Yomar Alamo.
He would return to action on the February 4th Amanda Serrano vs. Erika Cruz card as he was scheduled to take on an undefeated fighter who was expected to give him a challenge. In his second fight under the Matchroom umbrella, Richardson Hitchins faced John Bauza.
Hitchins scored a knockdown in the first round, and he proceeded to score a second knockdown in the fourth round when he landed a solid one-two combination. He went on to dominate the remainder of the bout while cruising to an impressive unanimous decision victory.
Now Richardson Hitchins (16-0, 7 KOs) is headlining his first show, and he wants to prove to the general public that he is one of the best fighters in the world at 140. If he’s able to score a victory on Saturday night, it would definitely bolster his status within the super lightweight division.
Similar to his September 23rd opponent, Jose Zepeda views his fight with Hitchins as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to showcase his skills, get a quality win over a young, talented fighter, and secure another shot at competing for a world title.
The last time Jose Zepeda fought for a world title was back in November 2022, when he battled Regis Prograis for the vacant WBC belt.
Prograis and Zepeda traded heavy shots in the beginning, but during the second half of the fight, Prograis was able to dictate the pace as he went on to score an 11th round knockout victory.
After the disappointing defeat, Jose Zepeda would bounce back in March 2023 with a unanimous decision victory over Neeraj Goyat. Now, the 12-year veteran is banking on scoring a victory against a young, talented contender and securing another chance to fight for a world title.
“This guy is the Matchroom prospect, so we’re here because after winning this fight, we know we’re already there again for the WBC rematch against Prograis or any other title, so this is it, this is the fight,” Zepeda said during an interview on Behind Closed Doors.
As for Richardson Hitchins, he has always viewed himself as elite, and on Saturday night, he wants to show why his name belongs at the top of the 140-pound division. Boxing is a sport based on levels, and on Saturday night, we will find out if Hitchin’s status is that of a good fighter or a boxer who has reached the championship level.