Liam Paro urges Richardson Hitchins not to run when they fight on December 7

Ahead of their December 7 clash in Puerto Rico, inside the Coliseo Robert Clemente, IBF junior welterweight champion Liam Paro has told challenger Richardson Hitchins to embrace his opportunity.

“Don’t run. Don’t stink it out,” said 25-0 (15 KOs) Australian southpaw.

Paro is coming off a big win in Puerto Rico, where he defeated hometown star Subriel Matias in an upset. Speaking with Chris Mannix on a head-to-head interview via Matchroom, Paro told Hitchins what makes him stand out as a champion.

“That I’ve got grit, I’m a true warrior. I’ll face anyone anywhere, I’m not afraid to face no challenge,” stated Paro.

Then, assessing his opponent, Paro continued: “He’s emotional. He’s unstable on twitter, that’s where you try and sell to the people, but not just that, to himself. He’s got to tell himself that he’s got that x-factor, all he does is talk. I respect you, you’re a good boxer, but you stink out stadiums. None of your fights prove you are what you say you are. So, December 7, meet me in the middle of the ring, don’t run, and prove, not just to me but to the world that you’ve got it.”

Paro said he wants to fight the best version of the 18-0 (7 KOs) New Yorker. 

Hitchins believes Paro is a “dirty fighter” and said his “heavy amateur pedigree” showed he was ready to outclass the Australian. 

“I feel like he fought guys like that before, in his past,” Hitchins said of Paro’s big win over Matias. “Matias was tailormade for him. He made obvious mistakes, he capitalised and stayed with the gameplan. Held, moved, boxed. Simple boxing. Any kid in the street can do that. Hit ‘em, boom, tie him up, pitty pat him.

“I was right there waiting for the winner, and I got the winner.” 

Paro tried to goad Hitchins into accepting a fight as opposed to a boxing match, to which Hitchins replied: “We can brawl if you want. You ain’t no brawler. You ain’t never shown me you wanna fight. Every fight you have, you grab and hold.”

Then, reflecting on his win over Gustavo Lemos, in his last in April in Las Vegas, during which Hitchins struggled, he said he had to lose six pounds the day before the fight and that he was “a one-handed fighter” because he had a damaged hand. 

Of Paro’s finest hour, against Matias, Hitchins added: “The world is hyping Liam up because he beat Matias…. It wasn’t rocket science to beat Matias.”