Ahead of Liam Paro's IBF junior welterweight title defense against Richardson Hitchins on December 7, Jamaine Ortiz has tipped the champion to triumph.
Australia’s Paro, 28, is scheduled to make his maiden 140-pound title defense against 27-year-old Hitchins of Brooklyn at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
While the fight promises to be meaningful, Worcester, Massachusetts’ Ortiz believes it’s Paro who stands tall against his opponent.
“I'm favoring Paro in that fight due to his style,” Ortiz told Fight Hype. “Paro comes with pressure and I don't know how well Hitchens can handle that pressure. He's a great boxer, but if you have a great fighter in front of him, I don't know how well he can take the fight.”
Paro decisioned Subriel Matias in 12 rounds to snatch the IBF junior welterweight title in June, a performance which shocked many. The defeat did not just end Matias’ 16-month reign as IBF champion, but also ended his invincibility in the ring.
Ortiz believes Paro was able to beat Matias because he managed to deal with his power which he described as the fighter’s only weapon.
“I think anybody could have beaten Matias because unless he's gonna knock you out, he's very easy to beat. He’s got punching power. He breaks people down, and that's one of his strengths.
“That's the main thing that's gotten [Matias] so far, but if he's able to take his shots, very beatable.”
Bernard Neequaye is a sports journalist with a specialty in boxing coverage. He wrote a boxing column titled “From The Ringside” in his native Ghana for years. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) at @BernardNeequaye, LinkedIn at Bernard Neequaye and through email at bernardneequaye@gmail.com.