NEW YORK – Richardson Hitchins showed John Bauza on Saturday night that he indeed does have some power.
Two days after Bauza questioned his heart and strength at a press conference, the Brooklyn native dropped Bauza in the fourth round and won their 10-round junior welterweight fight by unanimous decision on the Amanda Serrano-Erika Cruz undercard at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. Hitchins – whose hand speed, movement and skill befuddled Bauza – regularly landed the flusher punches and won by the same score, 100-88, on the cards of judges Ken Ezzo, Max De Luca and Tom Carisone.
Hitchins (18-0, 7 KOs) was credited with a first-round knockdown, though that was the result of him stepping on Bauza’s foot. Bauza (17-1, 7 KOs), a southpaw from North Bergen, New Jersey, lost in the first 10-round bout of his six-year professional career.
