Author: Sean Close
Brooklyn’s undefeated fighter, Richardson Hitchens, entered the ring to face Gustavo Lemos in a 12-round IBF junior welterweight title bout held on Saturday night in Las Vegas. The fight was the main event on the DAZN broadcast card. Prior to this, super middleweights David Pacheco and Sean McCalman squared off in what was expected to be a straightforward 10-bout match. However, Makalman put up a determined and sharp performance, surprising many with his resilience against Pacheco. Although Pacheco secured a unanimous decision victory, it was not an easy win.
The much-anticipated main event began with Hitchens employing a strategy of sticking and moving in the early rounds, while Lemos pressed forward with some success. Lemos managed to land some solid hits on Hitchens towards the end of the first round and focused on attacking Hitchens’ body in the second round. As the fight progressed, Lemos seemed to have the upper hand in landing punches.
In the fourth round, Lemos maintained his aggressive approach. However, in the fifth round, Hitchens effectively utilized his jab and threw some combinations that potentially shifted the momentum of the fight. The fast pace continued in the sixth round, with Lemos ramping up his aggression. In the later rounds, both fighters showed signs of fatigue, but continued to exchange blows.
As the fight reached its climax, both Hitchens and Lemos were visibly exhausted. Lemos showed remarkable energy in the penultimate round, relentlessly attacking Hitchens until the final bell. In the last round, Lemos remained fierce while Hitchens displayed unwavering determination. The fight went the distance, and ultimately, the judges awarded Hitchens the victory by unanimous decision. Despite one judge’s surprisingly wide scorecard, the outcome highlighted the unpredictable nature of boxing.
