Alright, so folks have been asking me what I’ve been up to, what rabbit holes I’ve dived into lately. Well, one name that kept popping up on my radar was Richardson Hitchins. You hear the buzz, you see the highlights, but I’m the kind of guy who likes to dig a bit deeper. It’s not enough to just see a flashy clip; I want to understand the whole picture. So, I decided to make him a bit of a project, a “practice” in really breaking down a fighter.
My process wasn’t anything super scientific, mind you. It started with me just wanting to see what all the fuss was about. I had some free evenings, more than usual actually, after wrapping up a big personal project that had consumed me for months. Suddenly, I had time to breathe, and my mind needed something to chew on. Boxing’s always been a passion, though I mostly watch from my armchair these days, haha. So, I thought, let’s really study this Hitchins fellow.
First thing I did, I went back. Way back. I pulled up whatever footage I could find of his earlier pro fights. Not just the big, televised ones, but anything I could get my hands on. You learn a lot from those initial outings, see the raw material before it gets too polished, or sometimes, before bad habits get coached out – or in!
Then, I moved on to his more recent stuff, the fights where there was more on the line. I’d watch a round, then rewatch it. Sometimes I’d mute the commentary, because let’s be honest, sometimes those guys are just selling a story, and I wanted to see with my own eyes. I’d focus on specific things:
- His footwork – how he controls distance.
- His jab – is it a rangefinder, a weapon, or both?
- His defense – what’s his go-to? High guard, head movement, relying on those legs?
- His punch selection and, crucially, his intent behind the punches.
I also spent a good chunk of time just reading. Fan forums, a few articles here and there, listening to what other boxing heads were saying. You gotta take it all with a grain of salt, of course. Everyone’s got an agenda, or they’re just repeating what they heard someone else say. But it helps to get a sense of the general perception.
So, What Did I Make of It All?
Well, after all that watching and thinking, I’ve got my own take. Richardson Hitchins is slick. No doubt about it. The kid can box. His defensive skills are pretty top-notch, he’s got that smooth movement, and he can make guys miss, make them look ordinary. That’s a real skill, and it’s not easy to do, especially as the competition gets tougher.
His jab is decent, he uses it well to set things up. You can see the amateur pedigree in there, that good foundation. He’s often very composed, doesn’t get easily flustered, which is a big plus in this sport. He sticks to his game plan, for the most part.
Now, the thing everyone talks about – the power, or the perceived lack of it. Look, not everyone is a one-punch knockout artist. And that’s fine. But in the pro game, especially when you’re trying to get to those top-tier fights, you need something to keep opponents honest, to really make them think twice. I’m not saying he doesn’t have it, but it’s not the first thing that jumps out at you. Sometimes I felt he was a bit too cautious, a bit too content to just outbox the other guy rather than really try to impose himself or look for the finish.
It’s a tough balance, right? You want to win, and winning on points is still winning. But to really capture the imagination of the wider public, and to make the big money, those memorable, dominant performances matter. I kept thinking, “Okay, nice boxing, but where’s that next gear?” Maybe it’s coming. He’s still relatively young in his pro career.
So, my “practice” with Hitchins was interesting. I feel like I’ve got a much better handle on what he brings to the table now, beyond the hype. He’s definitely a talented boxer, a guy with a high ceiling if he continues to develop and maybe adds a bit more authority to his offense. It was a good exercise for me, reminded me to always look beyond the surface. I’ll for sure be keeping an eye on how his career unfolds from here.
