Hitchins-Zepeda Tops Sept 23 DAZN Show In Orlando

Richardson Hitchins has secured a new date and perhaps an even more formidable opponent for his upcoming match. The undefeated rising star is set to square off against former title contender Jose 'Chon' Zepeda in his next outing. This junior welterweight crossroads clash will serve as the headline event for a DAZN show scheduled for September 23 in Orlando, Florida. The event will also feature a welterweight unification battle between lineal/WBC/WBA champion Jessica McCaskill and WBO titleholder Sandy Ryan.

Hailing from Brooklyn, Hitchins (16-0, 7KOs) represented Haiti in the 2016 Olympics and has been making waves since joining Matchroom Boxing last year. His initial opponent was supposed to be Montana Love, a matchup that garnered immediate attention due to their instant rivalry. They both appeared on a November 12 card in Love's hometown of Cleveland, with the aim of building anticipation for a showdown between them. Hitchins emerged victorious with an eighth-round knockout of Yomar Alamo, while Love faced a disappointing hometown defeat, being dropped and ultimately disqualified in the fifth round against Australia's Steve Spark.

On February 4 in New York City, Hitchins showcased his skills by soundly outpointing undefeated John Bauza over ten rounds. Afterward, he returned to the idea of facing Love. The two were initially set to collide on a July 15 DAZN event, which also showcased Alycia Baumgardner's vengeance-fueled triumph over Christina Linardatou in her native Detroit. However, Love withdrew from the matchup due to an undisclosed injury, leaving Hitchins without an opponent.

Despite plans to reschedule the fight, no new date materialized, prompting Hitchins to continue his promising career without waiting further.

Zepeda (36-3, 27KOs) maintains a high ranking as a contender, with his three career losses all occurring in title fights. Notably, he suffered an unexpected injury in the second round of a WBO lightweight title challenge against Terry Flanagan in July 2015.