Jose Zepeda vs Richardson Hitchins Preview September 23rd, 2023
Unbeaten Richardson Hitchins of Brooklyn, New York will be putting his IBF North American Super Lightweight Title on the line this Saturday, September 23rd when he takes on southpaw Jose Zepeda of Long Beach, California. The 12-rounder from Orlando, Florida is also for the vacant WBC Silver and WBO NABO Super Lightweight Belts. The fight can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Zepeda last fought in March when he shut out Neeraj Goyat over 10 rounds while Hitchins did the same to John Bauza in February and dropped him twice along the way to defend his IBF Title and win the vacant WBC USA Super Lightweight Crown.
Zepeda vs Hitchins Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Jose Zepeda +350
- Richardson Hitchins -500
My Pick
Zepeda is a 34-year-old veteran southpaw and owns a mark of 37-3 with 28 Ko’s. He won the vacant Silver Jr. Welterweight Crown in October, 2020 in a classic slugfest against Ivan Baranchyk. Zepeda was down twice in round one and once in rounds two and five while Baranchyk was down once in rounds two, three, four and five before he finally couldn’t get back up.
It was thought Zepeda may have suffered a lot of damage in that bout but he then beat Hank Lundy by 10-round unanimous decision without much problem seven months later and stopped Josue Vargas five months after that. Zepeda’s first pro loss came to Terry Flanagan when he was stopped in the second round in a shot at the WBO Lightweight Title in July, 2015. He suffered a dislocated left shoulder and remained on his stool when the bell rang to start the third round.
He then dropped a majority decision to WBC Super Lightweight Champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in February, 2019 in another world title opportunity with his third defeat coming to Regis Prograis via an 11th-round stoppage last November in a shot at the vacant WBC Super Lightweight Title. Zepeda stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 70.5 -inch reach and has boxed 180 rounds since making his pro debut on Christmas Day, 2009. He possesses better-than-average power in his fists as 75.7 per cent of his victories have come by way of stoppage and he’s definitely a fan-friendly fighter.
Zepeda also won the vacant WBO International Super Lightweight Crown in June, 2017 when he stopped Miguel Zamudio in the sixth round. He then won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Lightweight Championship by stopping Carlos Diaz Ramirez in the fifth round a year later. Zepeda has also beaten the likes of Jose Pedraza, Luis Arceo, Emanuel Lopez, Robert Frankel, Victor Manuel Cayo, Armando Robles and Abner Lopez.
Hitchins is 25 years old and makes the ring walk with a perfect mark of 16-0 with 7 Ko’s and has boxed 94 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. Before that he enjoyed a pretty good amateur career as he fought for Haiti at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and was beaten by Gary Antuanne Russell of America. Hitchins was born in New York to Haitian parents but failed to make the American Olympic boxing squad so represented Haiti instead.
At 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 74-inch reach, Hitchins has a two inch edge in height over Zepeda as well as 3.5-inches in reach. As far as power is concerned, his current knockout ratio is below average as it clocks in at 43.8 per cent and he’s gone the distance in five of his last seven outings. He’s got a pretty good chin but has hit the canvas during his pro career. Hitchins will also be taking a big upwards leap in class as he hasn’t fought a contender as of yet with his biggest wins coming over Tre’Sean Wiggins, Kevin Johnson, Argenis Mendez and Yomar Alamo.
Prediction…
Hitchins will need to display a solid chin against Zepeda if he’s going to emerge with a victory sand he”ll need to utilize his size advantage. Zepeda comes in second when it comes to pure boxing skills and he’s also nine years older than Hitchins. I’m not completely sold on Hitchins yet and this is his chance to prove he can handle a legitimate contender. Zepeda has a good chance to win this fight if he’s aggressive and lands with authority, but I think the slick-boxing Hitchins will do enough to pull it out.
Hitchins has the edge in boxing skills.
Play: Hitchins -500 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Jose Zepeda betting • Richardson Hitchins betting