Boxing
Keys to Victory: Where will Richardson Hitchins vs. Ricardo Salas be won?
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It’s a new beginning for Richardson Hitchins.
The former IBF super lightweight world champion makes his Zuffa Boxing debut tonight, clashing with Ricardo Salas in a welterweight matchup inside the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His fight will be in chief support to fellow Brooklyn, New York native Edgar Berlanga, who headlines against Steven Butler.
The undefeated Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) last fought in June 2025, defending his IBF super lightweight title behind his renowned jab against George Kambosos Jr. In April, he vacated his title to compete at 147 pounds. His first test there will be against a veteran Salas (24-2-2, 18 KOs) who last produced an eighth-round TKO of Jesus Saracho in March.
Will Hitchins look sharp in his first fight with Zuffa Boxing, immediately declaring himself as a force at welterweight? Or will Salas score what would be a grand upset at the New Yorker’s expense? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both fighters.
Richardson Hitchins’ Keys to Victory
Establish the jab
It all starts with the jab for Richardson Hitchins. The former super lightweight world champion has one of the best jabs in boxing — if not, the best. The New York City native throws the stick with piston-like delivery as it routinely finds a home slicing through opponents’ guards or to their midsection. With nearly four inches of reach advantage, Hitchins’ jab should be the exact tool used to establish distance and keep Ricardo Salas at bay.
Unleash the sweeping left hook
As Hitchins lulls opponents into expecting the jab, he often shows the stick and fires to the body with a left hook. When they honor his power to the midsection, Hitchins again shows a jab, but throws the sweeping left hook across opponents’ jaw. It’s all part of Hitchins’ disguising techniques and all-around sweet science sorcery.
Stay out of Salas’ range
Perhaps the best way for Hitchins to frustrate Salas tonight is to stay out of the Mexican’s range. A simple step back to avoid harm’s way could keep Salas pressing, goading him into making mistakes which Hitchins can then capitalize upon.
Sticking and moving behind the jab with a smooth back step will allow Hitchins to control his ring real estate and elude turbulence.
Ricardo Salas’ Keys to Victory
Get inside of Hitchins’ jab
Ricardo Salas cannot afford to be at the end of Richardson Hitchins’ jab as the latter will easily use the stick to outpoint his way to victory.
Therefore, the Mexican fighter must use feints and level changes to get inside of Hitchins’ reach, where he could demand more of a grinding pace that suits his style.
Punch in traffic
Watch Salas work, and he does a commendable job of punching in traffic and roughing up fighters on the inside when he deems it necessary.
Against a marksman like Hitchins, Salas throwing heavy-handed shots in traffic could be his best bet to disrupt the former champ’s boxing flow.
Uppercut into a right hand
In cramped quarters, Salas routinely digs into fighters with an uppercut before turning the shot into a right hook that wraps around and over their guards. If he could time Hitchins’ jab and step into the pocket with that crunching uppercut, Salas should look to turn it into that right hook that follows. After all, the combination might give him his best chance to shock Hitchins.
Who has the edge in Hitchins vs. Salas?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
Expect Richardson Hitchins to work a boxing masterclass against a gritty Ricardo Salas. I expect the rugged Mexican fighter to stalk Hitchins aggressively, having success in some sequences, but for the latter to control the pace of the bout behind the jab and expert spacing toward a points victory.
