Richardson Hitchens faced off against Gustavo Lemos in a competitive battle that could have swung either way.
The judges, however, unanimously ruled in favor of Hitchens much to the disappointment of the engaged audience in attendance.
Hitchens, hailing from Brooklyn, had to endure a challenging test to secure a victory in the IBF junior welterweight title eliminator broadcasted on DAZN. The fight took place at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on Saturday night, with Hitchens ultimately clinching a 12-round unanimous decision in a closely contested match. Judges Tim Cheatham (117-111), Max DeLuca (115-113), and Steve Weisfeld (115-113) all scored the fight in favor of Hitchens.
Despite the crowd’s disapproval of the decision, Hitchens remained gracious in his post-fight remarks.
“I felt like I won the fight unanimously,” Hitchens expressed to DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “It was a close fight. When I landed the right hand and stood there and traded with him, I felt like I conceded some rounds.”
This fight marked a stark contrast to Hitchens’ previous dominant win against former title challenger Jose Zepeda in Orlando, Fla., where he won every round in a less thrilling encounter that failed to captivate the crowd or viewers on DAZN.
However, his recent ring performances have been anything but dull.
Lemos entered the ring with something to prove in his first fight outside of Argentina. The sturdy fighter had not gone the distance in his last 10 bouts dating back to 2019 and was geared up for a tough battle against Hitchens, a 2016 Haitian Olympian accustomed to lengthy fights.
Lemos’ aggressive attacks posed a challenge for Hitchens in the initial rounds. Despite showcasing solid boxing skills, Hitchens struggled to fend off Lemos’ early onslaught effectively.
Following his corner’s advice, Hitchens pushed through and turned the tide in the fourth round. Lemos’s pace slowed down after a strong start, and Hitchens capitalized with well-timed punches, including a compact right uppercut and precise jabs.
The tables turned further in the fifth round as Lemos’ wide punches missed their target while Hitchens demonstrated discipline and accuracy with his jabs.
A pep talk between rounds spurred Lemos to amp up his intensity in the sixth round. While Hitchens managed to evade most of Lemos’ power shots, he had to defend smartly against the relentless Argentine.
Midway through the seventh round, an accidental headbutt halted the action briefly. Despite Lemos’ continued pressure, Hitchens maintained composure and weathered the storm.
Throughout the match, Hitchens faced multiple challenges and had to resort to defensive maneuvers, including clinching, to survive some intense exchanges.
As the fight progressed, Hitchens’ corner urged him to target Lemos’s body and slow down the aggressive onslaught. However, Lemos persisted with his attacks, leaving himself vulnerable to Hitchens’ counter punches.
In the final rounds, both fighters dug deep to land significant blows. Despite a few close calls, Hitchens managed to employ strategic jabs and footwork to control the pace and secure the win.
“My corner kept saying the fight was close,” Hitchens reflected. “But I felt like I was outboxing him and landing cleaner shots. He’s tough, undefeated at 29-0, and came here to win. It felt like a comfortable victory to me. Regardless, it was a tough fight.”
Statistical data from Compubox supported Hitchens’ claim, with him landing 172 of 456 punches (37.7% accuracy) compared to Lemos’s 161 of 581 punches (27.7% accuracy) in the 12-round bout.
While Lemos’s stock may rise despite the loss, Hitchens is set to become the mandatory challenger for the IBF title with this win.
Looking ahead, Hitchens eyes a potential match-up with the winner between Sabriel Matias and Liam Palo in June, as well as the victor of the WBC title showdown between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia in April.
Regardless of the outcome, Hitchens remains determined to climb up the ranks in pursuit of championship glory.
Jake Donovan, a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
