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Richardson Hitchins believes this weapon separates him from everyone else inside the ring
The most potent weapon inside the boxing ring is the jab. It sets everything up. Whether it's to set up a power shot, a combination, or pop it to keep your opponent at bay, the jab is the most effective thing a fighter can do inside the ring and can determine the entire fight.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. made a living off the jab. He used it as a primary shot of attack that propelled him to a 50-0 record in defeating many of the best fighters of his time, like Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, and Miguel Cotto. Before Mayweather, there was Pernell Whittaker who made a living off the jab to become one of the greatest welterweights of all time.
In today's era of boxing, among the best jabs belongs to Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs), who looks to defend his IBF super lightweight title for the second time as he battles the hard-hitting Oscar Duarte in the co-main event of Saturday's Ring: High Stakes event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas live and exclusively on DAZN PPV.
Who has the best overall jab in all of boxing? For Hitchens, there's only one at the top of the list.
"Top one," Hitchins bluntly said to DAZN News. "I think I have one of the best jabs in the sport of boxing."
Even though Hitchins ranks himself at the top of the heap, the 28-year-old doesn't want to discredit the other fighters out there who possess an impressive jab in their own right.
"The guys that I seen with a very good jab besides me are Shakur (Stevenson), (Dmitry) Bivol, David Benavidez, Devin Haney, and (Naoya) Inoue.
The jab is one of those punches that some fighters tend to shy away from. Boxers often feel the jab isn't pretty enough and only look for the highlight reel knockout. But from the beginning of time in boxing, it's the jab that has always set everything up to lead the fighters to the promised land. Looking at it from the inside, Hitchins feels you need every tool to be able to apply the jab to what its effect is supposed to be
"The jab is something that it requires more than just you throwing a jab," Hitchins explains. "It requires timing. It requires speed, the type of range you have. If you're a fighter with short arms, or you're a slow fighter, or you're a fighter with bad timing, the jab won't be as effective. But if you're a fighter with reach, speed, and great timing and accuracy, your jab will be super hard to take away. So I think that fighters, all the fighters that demonstrate some of the best jabs in boxing, have most of those attributes."
Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) is a pressure fighter who is always looking for the finish. The native of Mexico wasn't the first option on Hitchins' list, as that was Jamaine Ortiz, who fought and lost to Keyshawn Davis at the end of January. But Duarte stepped up to the plate. To Hitchins, it will just be another night of dominance, and he expects a second successful title defense.
"A masterclass, God willing, and with me coming out with my hands raised," Hitchins predicts.
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