In an event that will be talked about for quite some time, Richardson Hitchins pulled off an escapade worthy of an illusionist at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, narrowly securing a “victory” over Gustavo Lemos under questionable circumstances. The scorecards read 117-111 and 115-113 (twice) in Hitchins’ favor, sparking widespread disbelief among those who witnessed the bout firsthand. Lemos unleashed a barrage that should have had Hitchins on the ropes, yet somehow, Hitchins preferred a game of catch-me-if-you-can, interspersed with moments more suited to a hug fest whenever Lemos invaded his personal space.
The man in the middle seemed to have misplaced his rulebook, treating the fight more like a casual observation than a regulated bout. Despite Hitchins transforming the ring into his personal clinch domain, the referee’s intervention was conspicuously absent, allowing the farce to continue unimpeded. This bewildering display has inadvertently propelled Hitchins into a position as the IBF’s next in line for Subriel Matias, who’s gearing up for his own showdown with Liam Paro. Eddie Hearn is already seen plotting a matchup with the victor, but given Hitchins’ recent ring antics, perhaps a detour is in order.
It’s time Hitchins revisited the fundamental ethos of boxing rather than refining his grappling techniques. As for the referee, a crash course in the basics of officiating might be in order to prevent a repeat of this debacle. The evening’s proceedings resembled less of a sporting contest and more of a vanishing act, where the essence of boxing seemed to slip through our fingers.
Full Results:
Richardson Hitchins bt. Gustavo Daniel Lemos; Super lightweight
Diego Pacheco bt. Shawn McCalman; Super middleweight
Galal Yafai bt. Agustin Gauto; Flyweight
Skye Nicolson bt. Sarah Mahfoud; For the vacant WBC women’s featherweight title
Marc Castro bt. Abraham Montoya; Super featherweight
Steven Navarro bt. Jose Lopez; Super flyweight
Harley Mederos bt. Pedro Vicente Scharbaai; Lightweight