Saturday night at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida sees Richardson Hitchins step up in class to take on former three-time world title challenger, Jose Zepeda.
Hitchins vs Zepeda is promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and is broadcast live on DAZN worldwide.
New Yorker Hitchins (16-0, 7 KOs) has completed the ten round distance five times already, and this one is set for twelve.
The 25-year-old had his first major test last time out, and he passed with flying colours, dropping John Bauza twice on the way to winning every frame.
California’s Zepeda (37-3, 28 KOs) lost in a bid for the WBO lightweight title against Terry Flanagan in 2015, and he would go on to drop a majority decision to Jose Ramirez in 2019, and he was also knocked out in eleven by Regis Prograis in November last year, both for the WBC super lightweight title.
The 34-year-old returned in Mexico in March, winning all ten rounds against Neeraj Goyat.
Hitchins’ IBF North American super lightweight title is on the line, as are the vacant WBC Silver and WBO NABO baubles, with the victor closing in on a world title shot.
Prediction: Hitchins is a man on the up, while Zepeda needs a big win to stay in contention. I lean towards Hitchins frustrating his opponent and taking a clear win on the cards.
Benn returns
Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) makes a first appearance of 2023 after a back-and-forth struggle in relation to two failed VADA tests, which put paid to his scheduled clash with Chris Eubank Jr last October and while his battle with the British Boxing Board of Control rumbles on, he is free to compete, and the 26-year-old takes on Rodolfo Oroczo (32-3-3, 24 KOs) over ten rounds.
The contest is at 154 pounds, a weight division above Benn’s usual weight class, but ‘The Destroyer’ is looking at a rescheduled December clash with Eubank Jr at 160lbs.
The Destroyer. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/HLb0B13uxb
— Conor Nigel Benn (@ConorNigel) September 20, 2023
Prediction: The Ilford man should have too much for Mexico’s Oroczo, and can take a stoppage win.
Ryan meets McCaskill in world title clash
A massive opportunity awaits Sandy Ryan (6-1, 2 KOs) on the card, and the Derby native risks her WBO welterweight crown in an attempt to annex the WBC, WBA and IBO belts from Jessica McCaskill.
McCaskill (12-3, 5 KOs) has been undisputed champion at 147 pounds since August 2020, where she stunned Cecilia Braekhus via majority decision, and she backed that up with a convincing points win in the rematch.
The moment @sandyryan93 became a world champion ❤️️#McCaskillRyan | #HitchinsZepeda pic.twitter.com/npHCqQ9fJ6
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 18, 2023
After two more defences, she failed in a bid for Chantelle Cameron’s undisputed super lightweight title, and now returns to welterweight without the IBF strap, which is now owned by Natasha Jonas, and the WBO bauble, now held by Ryan (6-1, 2 KOs).
The 30-year-old has matured since avenging her sole loss to Erica Anabella Farias in August last year, and became WBO queen in April, clearly outpointing Marie Pier Houle for the vacant title in Cardiff.
Prediction: Ryan could be getting McCaskill at just the right time, and I favour the fresher Brit to fend off the American for a famous points win.
Williams faces Rolls
Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (14-0, 10 KOs) is biding his time for a world title shot, and the American middleweight should become the new IBF North American champion by taking a points win over ten against Steve Rolls (22-2, 12 KOs), who has been the distance with Edgar Berlanga, and has also been in with Gennady Golovkin.
Bulldozing his way to a shot at the World Title 😤
WBA #2 Austin Williams steps up against Steve Rolls this Saturday 🦅#WilliamsRolls #HitchinsZepeda pic.twitter.com/ztxvNHAxWP
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) September 19, 2023
Remaining Undercard
The other ten rounder comes at super lightweight, where Cuba’s Orestes Velazquez (7-0, 6 KOs) can take another early win, this time against Mohamed Soumaoro (13-1, 6 KOs).
In eight rounders, Khalil Coe (6-0-1, 4 KOs) should remain undefeated with a points win at light heavyweight against Kenmon Evans (10-1-1, 3 KOs), and Jeovanny Estela (12-0, 3 KOs) can do the same at super welterweight against Luis Caraballo Ramos (6-1-1, 6 KOs).
Super flyweight prospect Jasmine Artiga (10-0-1, KO5) can outscore Haley Pasion (2-4).
