IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Liam “The Prodigy” Paro and undefeated mandatory challenger Richardson Hitchins are ready for a high-stakes world title clash on Saturday, December 7, live worldwide on DAZN (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. :00 PT) with Roberto Clemente Coliseo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Both players shared observations about their training camps and mental preparations before this key clash.

Paro (25-0, 15 KO) secured the IBF title after a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Subriel Matías earlier this year that cemented his position as a true “road warrior” in the division. “Getting rid of the so-called boogeyman in his yard made it really special,” Paro said. “It wasn’t just about winning, it was about showing the world what we already knew. I will fight anyone, anywhere, the same way I fought the most shunned fighter in the division [Matias]”

Fresh off a career-defining victory in Puerto Rico, 140-pound champion Paro shared his excitement about defending his title in front of enthusiastic local fans. “Puerto Rico is a handsome place, full of handsome people, and I am honored to defend my title there,” Paro said. “Coming back to the island that gave me the opportunity to become a champion is something special. I’m ready to win even more fans with this performance.”

Despite fulfilling a lifelong dream, Paro insists his way of thinking has not changed. “I always said I wanted to have a target on my back. “It’s even more motivating to know that someone wants to take away what I’ve worked for all my life,” he explained. “I have maintained my discipline and focus and my attitude remains the same – I am always a challenger. I know how tough this fight will be, but I’m ready to show the world what we already know. I’m one of the best fighters in my division.”

Hitchins (18-0, 7 KO), who became the mandatory challenger earlier this year, wants to prove that he belongs at the top of the division. “This is my unit. I’m a 140-year-old man and when I get that belt, I’m taking it back to Fresh York,” Hitchins said. “This is my chance to show everyone what I’ve always said – I’m the best 140-pound fighter in the world. Hats off to Liam Paro for taking the fight, but he’s never fought someone like me.”

Hitchins is trained by Lenny Wilson, who has played a key role in his development and success. Hitchins, who is currently training in Brooklyn, plans to move his camp to Puerto Rico this week for the final stage of preparation. “I don’t take days off; I stay in shape year-round because it’s my job,” Hitchins said. “The discipline I learned from champions like Floyd Mayweather and Gervonta Davis helped me prepare for this moment. I feel like I’m in my best physical shape and I’ve made sure my mental game is just as good.

Paro trains in Florida under his longtime coach Alfie Di Carlo, who has played a key role in shaping his career. “We know the task ahead of us will not be effortless and we have an excellent game plan,” Paro said. “I have said for a long time that I have the best team in the world and we continue to show it in every fight. This one will be no different.”

While considering their opponent, both fighters made their intentions clear. “Paro beat the so-called boogeyman of this division, but I’m not Matías,” Hitchins said. “He has never fought a fighter like me before. I have the skills, attitude and ability to blow it away and show why I’m at the top of the division. Whether it’s boxing or fighting, I will find a way to win.

Paro remains equally confident: “I don’t look at anyone,” he said. “I’m focused on winning and continuing to grow as a champion. My goal is clear: to retain the title and prove that I am the best in the division.”

Both fighters understand what’s at stake and are excited to prove themselves in a division packed with talent. “I wouldn’t consider it a shocking moment,” Hitchins said. “Since I was a child, I believed I was a higher-class fighter. This fight is the moment I’ve been working for my whole life.”

“God willing, December 7 will be another defining event in my career,” Paro added. “I’m ready to put on a dominant performance and show again why I’m a top contender at 140 pounds.”

Refreshed and back in the United States after a well-deserved vacation following his fight in Zanzibar, Tevin Farmer has plenty of thoughts and reflections following his powerful performance against William Zepeda in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Showing heart, skill and unrelenting determination, the former world champion pushed his undefeated opponent – ​​the No. 1 lightweight contender in all four major sanctioning bodies – to the brink in a razor-thin split decision defeat on the Golden Boy card. Riyad’s Promotional Season: Latin Night, broadcast live on DAZN. With the WBC interim lightweight title on the line, Farmer fell just one point tiny of victory on the scorecard, putting in a hard-fought, impressive effort that cemented his position as one of the elite fighters at 135 pounds.

“I loved fighting in Saudi Arabia. It was my second fight abroad. Everyone treated me well. Yes, I thought I won, but overall it was an amazing experience,” said Farmer, a former IBF junior lightweight world champion who is the great-great-nephew of boxing legend Joe Gans.

“I’m always in the gym, but I spent 10 weeks in training camp for this fight. Zepeda’s team expected me to be a boxer, so I changed that. Zepeda is an aggressive fighter who throws a lot of punches and you can’t let fighters like that put the pressure on you. You have to be the bully, the one who pushes forward and initiates action. I’m an amazing fighter inside, but I’ve never had to show it like this before.”

Farmer scored his lone knockdown in the fourth frame with a perfectly timed straight left, showing off his trademark accuracy and in-ring IQ. Zepeda was visibly shaken but managed to recover.

“This was the fifth fight of my comeback, which started last June. Four of my last five opponents have made it to the ring, and now that includes the No. 1 lightweight contender. I fought a guy who was 31-0, with 27 knockouts, and he got knocked down by a fighter who supposedly had no power,” Farmer continued.

“I saw Zepeda stab lazily. At first I tried to counter it, but Zepeda was watching me. Time is key. In the fourth round I threw a combination, and as soon as he came back with that lethargic jab, I responded with a straight left.

Judges Predrag Aleksic, Jun Bae Lim and Fernando Villarreal scored the fight 95-94, with two points in favor of Zepeda and one for Farmer. All three unanimously awarded Farmers rounds 4, 5, 8 and 10, with Lim’s extra nod in round one making the difference on her card.

“Zepeda was the favorite and the Golden Boy fighter, so I knew I had to finish powerful and dominate the last round. His punches were crazy, but he was standing right in front of me, ready to hit. Watch the fight and you’ll see that I hurt him several times throughout the fight,” Farmer said. “When I heard the decision, I was depressed, but in my heart I knew I had won. Losing such a close decision in such circumstances is an unfortunate part of this sport, but the world saw what I could do.

“Show respect to Tevin Farmer’s name,” Lou DiBella, president of DiBella Entertainment, said on social media after the exhilarating competition. “I thought Tevin covered him, but it was close. Tevin leads the division! He proved it like a true warrior in his last two fights. It was the universal Zepeda No. 1 there; The knockout should have decided it!”

Four months earlier in Las Vegas, Farmer issued a bold challenge against rising 20-0 contender Raymond Muratalla in July. Many observers felt that Farmer probably won this fight. Head-to-head clashes with two of the best lightweights left no doubt about Farmer’s world-class caliber.

“I already knew it mentally, but the fight with Muratalla showed me that physically I still have that ability and I can beat these juvenile boys,” Farmer said.

“Tevin Farmer is a man, an underdog, a champion and a professional,” DiBella said. “Tev will come back and win a massive fight again.”

Boxing prodigy and future world champion Curmel Moton explained why he gained more than 15 pounds more before Saturday night’s doomed fight.

Moton was scheduled to face Bryan Mercado at 133 pounds on a bill promoted by Danny Garcia at ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City, Up-to-date Jersey. But at Friday’s weigh-in, Moton came in at 148.7 pounds, to an audible gasp in the room.

There was no way the Mercado fight would happen after such a weight miss. Moton was therefore removed from the bill and returned at a later date.

After the farce, the 18-year-old apologized to his fans, explaining his huge oversight and telling them that he would return to Ryan Garcia’s exhibition bill in Japan.

“I want to apologize to everyone who was planning to come to Jersey to watch me fight,” Moton said. “I once spoke to the committee about undergoing blood tests and at the moment they lost my blood in their body [which meant the fight was unlikely to be sanctioned].

“I had known this for three days, so there was no point in killing myself [the] Libra. For some reason they still had me weigh in and they decided that was the reason they were canceling the fight.

“Regardless, I will return to Japan on December 30. See you soon,” added fighter Floyd Mayweather.

Regardless, the “Tale of Garcia” event will go ahead, with Anthony Newborn leading the pack against Windry Martinez. The card also includes a group of undefeated candidates promoted by former world champion Garcia.