By Craig Daly: Richardson Hitchins realizes that he’s got to dominate Jose Zepeda (37-3, 28 KOs) in their light welterweight main event 12-round fight this Saturday night for him to vault himself into position to challenge for a world title against one of the four champions at 140.
(Photo credit: Anthony Leaver)
This is a fight that Hitchins must win to prove himself as being capable of capturing a world title. He’s got to beat Zepeda and try and do a better job of it than Regis Prograis did last year when he stopped him in the eleventh round.
Hitchins-Zepeda will meet at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. The event will be shown live on DAZN at 8:00 p.m. ET in the U.S. and at 1:00 a.m. The UK.
Undercard
- Female welterweight champions Jessica McCaskill and Sandy Ryan will battle in a unification clash.
- Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams faces the experienced veteran Steve Rolls
- Light welterweight Orestes Velazquez fights Mohamed Soumaoro
Richardson has got to do a number against the powerful 34-year-old Zepeda, which won’t be easy because this guy packs a punch and he’s levels above the 16 guys that he’s fought during his six-year pro career.
Hitchins may have sparred with better fighters than Zepeda, but that doesn’t matter. He’s not fought anyone near as good as him, so he could have problems potentially if he’s not careful.
“Winning is number one, of course, but to get the big fights, I have to win and dominate,” said Richardson. I’m ready for the champions because when you look at the guys [Regis] Prograis or [Devin] Haney fight, those are guys that I am a nightmare for any of them.”
Vasily Lomachenko would be a big problem for Hitchins, even now at 35. A younger version of Lomachenko beats Hitchins without question.
The Josh Taylor that beat Prograis in 2019 would be a massive problem for Richardson, but obviously not now, as he looks shot at 32 and has clearly outgrown the 140-lb division.
Hitchins well prepared for Zepeda
“Recently, I sparred with Erickson, and I sparred with Shakur. I also got to spar Edwin [De Los Santos]. I got to spar with him, and it was great work, too,” said Richardson Hitchins to MillCity Boxing.
“If Regis’ deal don’t fall out, me and Regis can definitely happen, and we can compete for that WBC belt he got. I feel like Devin is on a different level,” said Richardson when asked for his prediction on the Prograis vs. Devin Haney fight.
“Devin’s only kryptonite is I don’t know if Devin can take a punch from Regis, but Regis don’t look like he can deliver that punch because the last guy that he fought.
“It wasn’t just the movement that was messing Regis up. It was a lot of things. The guy’s distance and the guy’s timing. That guy is nowhere near the level of Devin. Devin is a masterful boxer. He understands the sweet science. He understands distance. He has great timing. Devin can really fight.
“I honestly feel like Regis isn’t on Devin’s level, nowhere near. Regis’ career was built on, I wouldn’t say, luck, but with match-making. The people he was in therewith. Even the guy [Kiryl Relikh], who he captured his first belt off before he won his WBC belt. That was easy pickings; that was easy work.
“He fought Jose Zepeda; Jose Zepeda’s best win was Josue Vargas. I don’t give credit for when a guy beats somebody when they don’t come back and do nothing after that. It’s like, whatever.
“When I beat Malik [Hawkins in 2021]. People can’t give me credit for beating Malik and [John] Bauza unless those guys come back and actually do something.
“Zepeda, those guys he’s beating are nowhere near the level of the class like me, Shakur, Teofimo, and Devin; there’s a whole different skill level.
“I just think Josh Taylor got a taste of it with a guy like Teo, and Regis is going to get another taste of it if he don’t land that punch [against Haney], which I don’t think he will,” said Richardson.
