There’s nothing Richardson Hitchins would enjoy more than a shot at the current title holders at 140 pounds. However, despite his desires, the former Olympian is well aware that he’ll be forced to play the waiting game.
This past weekend, at the Hulu Theater in New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hitchins (16-0, 7 KOs) dished out a one-sided beating against John Bauza. Although he continues his steady climb up the super lightweight ranks, Hitchins has a bit more work to do before he can force the hand of one of the champions.
Anxious to prove that he belongs amongst the rest of the division’s elite, Hitchins has scoured the super lightweight landscape in search of a suitable foe to display his skills against. With a bevy of names to choose from, the 25-year-old standout lands on former 135-pound kingpin, Teofimo Lopez.
In terms of how Hitchins views the bombastic contender, he acknowledges that Lopez (18-1, 13 KOs) is very much a pernicious puncher. But, outside of his ability to separate his foes from their consciousness, Hitchins believes that if the two met, his mastery of the sweet science would be the difference maker.
“I think he’s dangerous, explosive, and powerful but I just feel like I’m on a different level skillfully,” said Hitchins to BoxingScene.com.
Following a boatload of success at 135 pounds, Lopez’s unified reign was truncated at the hands of George Kambosos Jr.
Since then, Lopez audaciously made the move five pounds north. The wins have continued to appear in the win column but Lopez’s performances have been up and down. In his most recent outing, the 25-year-old was pushed to the limit against fellow contender, Sandor Martin.
With a host of criticism being hurled in his direction, Hitchins refuses to pile on. In his view, Hitchins has always noticed the overarching flaws in Lopez’s game that are now being accentuated.
“Things that’s exposing him right now I been seen it. I always felt like Teo is beatable.”