By Jake Tiernan: Unbeaten Richardson Hitchins has a tough fight against Jose Zepeda this Saturday night, September 23rd, in their headliner on DAZN.
Light welterweight contender Hitchins (16-0, 7 Kos), who promoter Eddie Hearn views as a future superstar at 140, is facing one of the biggest punchers in the division in Zepeda (37-3, 28 KOs) in their twelve round fight at the Caribe Royale Orlando, Orlando, Florida.
The Hitchins vs. Zepeda event will be shown live on DAZN beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET in the U.S.
Hitchins will need to have his defense on point in this fight because he took many huge shots from little-known John Bauza in his last bout. Luckily for Hitchins, Bauza isn’t a huge puncher like Zepeda and some of the other 140-pounders in the division.
If he gets hit by Zepeda as often as he was by Bauza, it’s going to be an early night on Saturday.
Zepeda was recently knocked out by Regis Prograis last year, so should be vulnerable enough for Hitchins to win this fight unless he gets nailed repeatedly like he was in his fight with Bauza.
Hopefully, Hitchins stands and fights to make it entertaining on Saturday because he moves too move, and it’s boring to watch at times.
This is good match-making by Hearn because he’s catching Zepeda at the right time to put Hitchins in with him. If he made this fight several years ago, Hitchins would be in trouble because Zepeda was in top form back in 2020.
For Hitchins to be a superstar, he’s going to need to beat fighters like Gary Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias, and Teofimo Lopez. That is unlikely to happen, though, as he gets hit too much, and he’s just one of the many potshot fighters in the division.
Hitchins must change his fighting style to be more of a combination puncher because he’s not going to beat the top guys with pot shots.
“Richardson Hitchins could be one of the standout superstars at 140 pounds. He was a top amateur, and he’s undefeated. He has a really tough fight against [Jose] Zepeda,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing Social about light welterweight contender Richardson Hitchins, who takes on Jose Zepeda this Saturday night on DAZN. “Ammo Williams against Steve Rolls. It’s a great fight as well.”
Hearn failed to mention what his plans are for Hitchins after Zepeda. It would be nice to see Hitchins tested against a younger fighter like Gary Antuanne Russell before fighting for a world title. If he can’t beat Russell, he surely won’t hold onto a belt if he can get his hands on one somehow.
Hitchins-Zepeda undercard:
Austin Williams vs. Steve Rolls
Jessica McCaskill vs. Sandy Ryan
