Hitchins and Russell both win by stoppage on Wilder-Breazeale prelims
Former Olympians and Richardson Hitchins and Gary Antuanne Russell get wins inside the distance at Barclays
Rising prospects Richardson Hitchins and Gary Antuanne Russell took advantage of high-profile slots on the undercard of Showtime Championship Boxing’s Heavyweight title fight Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder vs Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale.
The pair of young fighters aren’t far enough along in the careers to have made the cut to appear on the televised portion of the card. But, each looked good in their fights streamed on Showtime’s YouTube channel.
Hitchins, a Brooklyn native, added his ninth win versus Alejandro Munera (4-2-3, 4 KOs), using a solid jab to set up the Columbian for some punishing body work in the third round. Hitchins closed the distance in the third round to land a body shot that dropped Munera. Once the action resumed Hitchins’ attention underneath created openings for his right hand to Munera’s head over the second half of the round. Munera’s corner advised the ref their fighter would not continue heading into the fourth round.
Super Lightweight Russell, the youngest brother of the co-main event’s Gary Russell, Jr., stalked and utilized his hand-speed advantage to gradually take apart Marcos Mojica (16-4-2, 12 KOs). In the opening minute of the fourth round a right hand up top dropped Mojica. A second knockdown at just under brought an end to the contest at 2:13. Russell improved to nine wins with nine knockouts.
Heavyweights Robert Alfonso and Iago Kiladze failed to distinguish a winner over their eight rounds, and their lackluster fight resulted in scores of 77-75 75-77 76-76 – a split draw.
All photos by Amanda Westcott/Showtime
