Odds: Hitchins 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Diego Pacheco vs. Shawn McCalman, super middleweights; Skye Nicolson vs. Sarah Mahfoud, featherweights (for vacant WBC title); Galal Yafai vs. Agustin Mauro Gauto, flyweights; Marc Castro vs. Abraham Montoya, junior lightweights
Background: Hitchins is a 2016 U.S. Olympian and a rising young 140-pound contender from New York City. The 26-year-old, an excellent technician, is coming off the biggest victory of his career: a near-shutout decision over former three-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda on Sept. 23. Hitchins is ranked in the Top 3 in three of the four major sanctioning bodies, No. 2 by the WBC. Lemos is best known for his fifth-round knockout of one-time 126-pound titleholder Lee Selby at 135 pounds in March 2022, which sent the aging Welshman into retirement. The IBF’s No. 7-ranked 140-pounder also is on a run of 10 consecutive knockouts. However, he has faced no one else of note. And the 28-year-old resident of Buenos Aires has never fought outside of his native country, which makes it difficult to gauge the threat to Hitchins he will pose on Saturday.
Junior welterweight contender Richardson Hitchins believes he’s on his way to stardom going into his fight against Gustavo Lemos.
Richardson Hitchins is loaded with ability, he insists. He has just needed a platform to demonstrate it.
The 140-pound contender from Brooklyn has a big one on Saturday night at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where he’ll take on Gustavo Lemos in an IBF title eliminator (DAZN).
Hitchins, 26, sees it as just another step toward stardom.
“I think I am a star already and superstar status comes with me promoting myself, making the best of my opportunities and getting to that superstar status,” he said on Matchroom’s “Flash Knockdown” podcast. “My name is buzzing already as if I am a world champion.
“People put me in these fantasy fights like, ‘I want to see Richardson Hitchins vs. Devin Haney, vs. Subriel Matias,’ and this is just in a year that I’ve been with Matchroom. Once I’ve had a little bit of exposure to the boxing fans, my name is on the scene.
“So I feel like slowly but surely, people are seeing my talent and that will turn me into the superstar that I want to be once I get my hands on the world championships and big fights.”
Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) is coming off a breakthrough victory, a near-shutout decision over three-time title challenger Jose Zepeda in September.
He’s now ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, No. 3 by the IBF. That organization’s Nos. 1 and 2 positions are vacant, which means he’s the top contender for Subriel Matias’ title.
Lemos (29-0, 19 KOs) is a 28-year-old from Argentina who is best known for stopping former 126-pound titleholder Lee Selby in March 2022, although he has never fought outside his native country.
Hitchins is confident things will go well in what he sees as a significant opportunity: Fighting as a headliner on a major card.
“I feel good, I feel ready for the moment,” he said. “This is what I’ve been doing my whole life. This will just be another day in the ring for me and picking up another victory. That’s what we plan to do on Saturday.
“This is big, I’m not going to lie. It’s a huge opportunity. When I first fought on a Matchroom card in Ohio (in 2022) I said, ‘I’m supposed to be the main event right now.’ And I don’t even think it was a year later that I was headlining my first card.
“I felt Matchroom was giving opportunities to fighters that were on a lesser level than me, and I felt I belonged at the level where I was headlining my own cards and be on the verge of a world title.
“I proved myself slowly but surely that I belong with the elite guys in the division, and now is the time to stamp my name in the division and in the sport.”
Hitchins doesn’t have a style that appeals to fans who crave action. The 2016 Olympian, who competed for his parents’ native country of Haiti, is a polished technician.
He’s committed to the hit-and-not-be-hit approach to boxing. That has worked for him, as all but one of his victories have come by unanimous decision or stoppage. And most observers believe his split decision over veteran Argenis Mendez in 2020 should’ve been unanimous.
Hitchins believes he will win over fans with his dominance.
“I’m one of those fighters that people say, ‘Oh he’s boring,’” he said. “But I’m also one of those fighters that could box a perfect fight and not have a glove landed on me. So I feel like that’s my motto, and I’m sticking to hitting and not getting hit, and elevating my game, that’s what we focus on in camp.
“Everything else is just getting in shape and making sure my body is in physical condition to endure punishment if needed or to go any grueling rounds if that’s what it comes down to.”
Odds: Hitchins 5-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Diego Pacheco vs. Shawn McCalman, super middleweights; Skye Nicolson vs. Sarah Mahfoud, featherweights (for vacant WBC title); Galal Yafai vs. Agustin Mauro Gauto, flyweights; Marc Castro vs. Abraham Montoya, junior lightweights
Background: Hitchins is a 2016 U.S. Olympian and a rising young 140-pound contender from New York City. The 26-year-old, an excellent technician, is coming off the biggest victory of his career: a near-shutout decision over former three-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda on Sept. 23. Hitchins is ranked in the Top 3 in three of the four major sanctioning bodies, No. 2 by the WBC. Lemos is best known for his fifth-round knockout of one-time 126-pound titleholder Lee Selby at 135 pounds in March 2022, which sent the aging Welshman into retirement. The IBF’s No. 7-ranked 140-pounder also is on a run of 10 consecutive knockouts. However, he has faced no one else of note. And the 28-year-old resident of Buenos Aires has never fought outside of his native country, which makes it difficult to gauge the threat to Hitchins he will pose on Saturday.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
THURSDAY
Tito Sanchez vs. Erik Ruiz, junior featherweights, Indio, California (DAZN)
Jordan Panthen vs. Ravshan Hudaynazarov, junior middleweights, Costa Mesa, California (TrillerTV+)
FRIDAY
Ernesto Mercado vs. Deiner Berrio, junior welterweights, Houston (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Jack Culcay, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title), Falkansee, Germany (no TV in U.S.)
Richie Rivera vs. Mathew Obinna, light heavyweights, Uncasville, Connecticut (StarBoxing.TV)
Dalton Smith took a significant step forward with a knockout of Jose Zepeda on Saturday in England
Dalton Smith took a significant step in his career Saturday in Sheffield, England, his hometown.
The 140-pounder stopped three-time title challenger Jose Zepeda with a right to the body in the fifth round, moving him closer to legitimate title contention.
“A lot of people thought this fight was too soon for me,” said Smith (16-0, 12 KOs). “That made me train harder, and I showed where I belong tonight. I was hitting him with some clean shots. He walked on to an uppercut, and then I knew I could hurt him.”
Dalton Smith 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐒 Jose Zepeda Inside 5 Rounds! 💨 💥
Smith hurt Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) with a right uppercut and followed with the right hand to the gut about a minute into Round 5, forcing Zepeda to take a knee in pain.
The American was counted out in that position, giving Smith his biggest victory. The official time of the stoppage was 1:25.
The 27-year-old will have to wait in line to face the big names at junior welterweight. For now, he has his eye on unbeaten countryman Adam Azim, who is the European champion.
“I don’t call many names out but Adim Azim, where are you at?” he said. “I bet he vacates that title. I respect him, but the European title is something I want.”
Meanwhile, Zepeda’s days as an elite fighter fight me be over. The 34-year-old from the Los Angeles area has now lost three of his past four fights, to Regis Prograis, Richardson Hitchins and now Smith.
Dalton Smith took a significant step forward with a knockout of Jose Zepeda on Saturday in England
Dalton Smith took a significant step in his career Saturday in Sheffield, England, his hometown.
The 140-pounder stopped three-time title challenger Jose Zepeda with a right to the body in the fifth round, moving him closer to legitimate title contention.
“A lot of people thought this fight was too soon for me,” said Smith (16-0, 12 KOs). “That made me train harder, and I showed where I belong tonight. I was hitting him with some clean shots. He walked on to an uppercut, and then I knew I could hurt him.”
Dalton Smith 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐒 Jose Zepeda Inside 5 Rounds! 💨 💥
Smith hurt Zepeda (37-5, 28 KOs) with a right uppercut and followed with the right hand to the gut about a minute into Round 5, forcing Zepeda to take a knee in pain.
The American was counted out in that position, giving Smith his biggest victory. The official time of the stoppage was 1:25.
The 27-year-old will have to wait in line to face the big names at junior welterweight. For now, he has his eye on unbeaten countryman Adam Azim, who is the European champion.
“I don’t call many names out but Adim Azim, where are you at?” he said. “I bet he vacates that title. I respect him, but the European title is something I want.”
Meanwhile, Zepeda’s days as an elite fighter fight me be over. The 34-year-old from the Los Angeles area has now lost three of his past four fights, to Regis Prograis, Richardson Hitchins and now Smith.
Odds: Smith 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Sandy Ryan vs. Terri Harper, welterweights (for Ryan’s WBO title); Campbell Hatton vs. James Flint, junior welterweights; Ishmael Davis vs. Troy Williamson, junior middleweights
Background: Smith, who holds the British 140-pound championship, has made his mark on the national and European level. Now it’s time to take on the world. That starts with a fight against three-time world title challenger Zepeda in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield. Smith, 27, is a well-schooled boxer-puncher. His power was on full display in his most recent bout, in which he overcame multiple cuts to knock out Londoner Sam Maxwell with a single right hand in the seventh round last July. That victory followed unanimous decisions over Kaisee Benjamin and Billy Allington in 2022 and early last year. Smith is ranked No. 12 by the WBC. Zepeda, 34, can’t afford to lose if he hopes to remain a relevant fighter. The Los Angeles-area fighter has had his share of success – including victories over Ivan Baranchyk, Jose Pedraza and Hank Lundy – but he’s 1-2 in his last three fights and has failed in three attempts to capture a world title. He had bad luck in his first try, when he dislocated his shoulder and had to quit after two rounds against then-champion Terry Flanagan in 2015. He came closest to winning one when he lost a majority decision to then-titlist Jose Ramirez in 2019. Then, in November 2022, he was stopped in 11 rounds by Regis Prograis. He was nearly shut out by Richardson Hitchins last September, raising questions about his future as an elite boxer.
Odds: Smith 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Significance (up to five stars): ***
Also on the card: Sandy Ryan vs. Terri Harper, welterweights (for Ryan’s WBO title); Campbell Hatton vs. James Flint, junior welterweights; Ishmael Davis vs. Troy Williamson, junior middleweights
Background: Smith, who holds the British 140-pound championship, has made his mark on the national and European level. Now it’s time to take on the world. That starts with a fight against three-time world title challenger Zepeda in Smith’s hometown of Sheffield. Smith, 27, is a well-schooled boxer-puncher. His power was on full display in his most recent bout, in which he overcame multiple cuts to knock out Londoner Sam Maxwell with a single right hand in the seventh round last July. That victory followed unanimous decisions over Kaisee Benjamin and Billy Allington in 2022 and early last year. Smith is ranked No. 12 by the WBC. Zepeda, 34, can’t afford to lose if he hopes to remain a relevant fighter. The Los Angeles-area fighter has had his share of success – including victories over Ivan Baranchyk, Jose Pedraza and Hank Lundy – but he’s 1-2 in his last three fights and has failed in three attempts to capture a world title. He had bad luck in his first try, when he dislocated his shoulder and had to quit after two rounds against then-champion Terry Flanagan in 2015. He came closest to winning one when he lost a majority decision to then-titlist Jose Ramirez in 2019. Then, in November 2022, he was stopped in 11 rounds by Regis Prograis. He was nearly shut out by Richardson Hitchins last September, raising questions about his future as an elite boxer.
Weekend Review: Zhilei Zhang has blossomed at 40 years old while Joe Joyce has wilted at 38.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Zhilei Zhang
Zhang didn’t come out of nowhere. The 40-year-old southpaw from China was a silver medalist in the 2008 Olympics and has been a consistent winner as a professional over the past decade. However, when he drew with limited Jerry Forrest in February 2021, he seemed to have hit his ceiling. Then, three fights later, he pushed rising contender Filip Hrgovic surprisingly hard last August to pump new life into his career as he approached 40. And now he has back-to-back knockout victories over once-top contender Joe Joyce, the latter a spectacular one-punch stoppage Saturday in Joyce’s hometown of London. Just like that he became a bona-fide contender for the titles of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Can he beat one of the champions? Probably not. His victories over Joyce were as much the result of Joyce’s limitations as Zhang’s ability. Fury and Usyk are a level above. At the same time Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) is exactly where he wants to be: He has earned the right to fight for a major world title, which is the goal of every prize fighter. He deserves a great deal of credit.
BIGGEST LOSER
Joe Joyce
Joe Joyce couldn’t recover from a brutal right hook. Stephen Pond / Getty Images
Joyce, 38, said during the post-fight news conference that his decision to face Zhang in April was too big of a risk given that he was the WBO’s mandatory challenger to Usyk’s belt at the time. No it wasn’t. If Joyce was what he was supposed to be – a genuine threat to anyone – he should’ve defeated a fringe contender who drew with Forrest and lost to Hrgovic, southpaw stance or no southpaw stance. The fact is he isn’t what he was supposed to be. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist combined size and strength with some ability to win consistently against second-tier opposition to create an aura of formidability, perhaps peaking with a victory over past-his-best Joseph Parker last September. Then the peaking Zhang exposed his limitations – twice. Joyce is big and strong but he’s slow and his skills are solid at best, which isn’t good enough against the best in the division. Joyce mentioned former foe Daniel Dubois as a potential comeback opponent, which makes sense given that both are coming off KO losses. Retirement might be a better option if his goal remains to win a major title. That’s a long shot as things stand now.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Gifted 140-pound contender Richardson Hitchins’ victory over Jose Zepeda (37-4, 28 KOs) on Saturday night in Florida wasn’t thrilling but it was convincing. The 25-year-old New Yorker outclassed a rugged veteran in what was billed as his toughest test to date, winning a near shutout decision on national television. Good night’s work. Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) will be a difficult opponent for any of the top junior welterweights. … Conor Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) returned to the ring after 17 months away on the Hitchins-Zepeda card, defeating Rodolfo Orozco by a one-sided decision in a 10-round 154-pound fight. Benn shouldn’t have been allowed to fight, although it’s complicated. Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene ahead of his scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. last fall, which led to his suspension. He was cleared by the U.K.’s National Anti-Doping Panel. However, that ruling was appealed by the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping, which seems to leave Benn’s case in limbo. Florida officials should’ve backed British officials. The top agencies must stick together to control cheating.
Weekend Review: Zhilei Zhang has blossomed at 40 years old while Joe Joyce has wilted at 38.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Zhilei Zhang
Zhang didn’t come out of nowhere. The 40-year-old southpaw from China was a silver medalist in the 2008 Olympics and has been a consistent winner as a professional over the past decade. However, when he drew with limited Jerry Forrest in February 2021, he seemed to have hit his ceiling. Then, three fights later, he pushed rising contender Filip Hrgovic surprisingly hard last August to pump new life into his career as he approached 40. And now he has back-to-back knockout victories over once-top contender Joe Joyce, the latter a spectacular one-punch stoppage Saturday in Joyce’s hometown of London. Just like that he became a bona-fide contender for the titles of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Can he beat one of the champions? Probably not. His victories over Joyce were as much the result of Joyce’s limitations as Zhang’s ability. Fury and Usyk are a level above. At the same time Zhang (26-1-1, 21 KOs) is exactly where he wants to be: He has earned the right to fight for a major world title, which is the goal of every prize fighter. He deserves a great deal of credit.
BIGGEST LOSER
Joe Joyce
Joe Joyce couldn’t recover from a brutal right hook. Stephen Pond / Getty Images
Joyce, 38, said during the post-fight news conference that his decision to face Zhang in April was too big of a risk given that he was the WBO’s mandatory challenger to Usyk’s belt at the time. No it wasn’t. If Joyce was what he was supposed to be – a genuine threat to anyone – he should’ve defeated a fringe contender who drew with Forrest and lost to Hrgovic, southpaw stance or no southpaw stance. The fact is he isn’t what he was supposed to be. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist combined size and strength with some ability to win consistently against second-tier opposition to create an aura of formidability, perhaps peaking with a victory over past-his-best Joseph Parker last September. Then the peaking Zhang exposed his limitations – twice. Joyce is big and strong but he’s slow and his skills are solid at best, which isn’t good enough against the best in the division. Joyce mentioned former foe Daniel Dubois as a potential comeback opponent, which makes sense given that both are coming off KO losses. Retirement might be a better option if his goal remains to win a major title. That’s a long shot as things stand now.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Gifted 140-pound contender Richardson Hitchins’ victory over Jose Zepeda (37-4, 28 KOs) on Saturday night in Florida wasn’t thrilling but it was convincing. The 25-year-old New Yorker outclassed a rugged veteran in what was billed as his toughest test to date, winning a near shutout decision on national television. Good night’s work. Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) will be a difficult opponent for any of the top junior welterweights. … Conor Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) returned to the ring after 17 months away on the Hitchins-Zepeda card, defeating Rodolfo Orozco by a one-sided decision in a 10-round 154-pound fight. Benn shouldn’t have been allowed to fight, although it’s complicated. Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene ahead of his scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. last fall, which led to his suspension. He was cleared by the U.K.’s National Anti-Doping Panel. However, that ruling was appealed by the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping, which seems to leave Benn’s case in limbo. Florida officials should’ve backed British officials. The top agencies must stick together to control cheating.
Odds: Hitchins 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Pound-for-pound: None
Also on the card: Jessica McCaskill vs. Sandy Ryan, welterweights (for McCaskill’s WBA, WBC and WBO titles); Austin Williams vs. Steve Rolls, middleweights; Orestes Velazquez vs. Mohamed Soumaoro, junior welterweights
Prediction: Hitchins UD
Background: Hitchins is a rising 140-pound contender from New York City. The gifted 25-year-old has already faced some solid opponents but Zepeda – a fellow contender with big-fight experience – arguably is his toughest test, at least on paper. Hitchins is coming off a shutout decision over previously unbeaten John Bauza on Feb. 4, his 11th consecutive victory over an opponent with a winning record. Zepeda is a three-time world title challenger known for his solid ability and grit, the latter of which was most evident in his Fight of the Year performance against Ivan Baranchyk in 2020. The 34-year-old from the Los Angeles area was stopped in 11 rounds by Regis Prograis in a fight for a vacant 140-pound title last November. He rebounded to shut out journeyman Neeraj Goyat on March 25. A victory over Hitchins would be a significant step toward getting a fourth title shot.
