Boxing commentator blasts judge for ‘unfathomable scorecard’ as Liam Paro loses his IBF lightweight belt following defeat by Richardson Hitchins

Australian Liam Paro has lost his IBF super lightweight belt after suffering a split-decision defeat by New Yorker Richardson Hitchins in Puerto Rico on Sunday.

Paro made a bright start to the bout in San Juan, with the Mackay talent on top for three of the first four rounds.

But Hitchins turned the 12-round contest on its head after that, with two of the three judges scoring the American the winner 116-112.

The other judge – Nelson Vazquez – scored the bout 117-111 to Paro in a scorecard that was widely panned on social media.

A win for Paro would have set up a blockbuster fight in Australia, possibly against compatriot and former lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr.

Paro’s record now stands at 25-1, and it remains to be seen what his next move will be.

The decision copped widespread flack online after one judge scored the fight 117-111 against Paro 

Hitchins turned the 12-round contest on its head after the fourth round, with two of the three judges scoring the American the winner 116-112

Hitchins improved to 19-0, and he was overcome by emotion after being announced the winner. 

‘117-111 for Paro is an unfathomable scorecard,’ boxing commentator Corey Erdman said on DAZN. 

‘Yeah, that was terrible. You’ve got to find that (judge) and fine him because that was terrible,’ Sergio Mora, a former WBC middleweight champion, added.

Some, including Shakur Stevenson, took to social media to vent at the judge’s card. 

‘Bro whoever scored 117-111 Paro need to never score a boxing match every again! That was the wildest scorecard I ever seen in my life!!!’ Stevenson wrote. 

Other social media users added: ‘Whatever judge gave Liam Paro that decision needs to be fired!!!’ 

‘That judge that scored it 117-111 Liam Paro need to get his license revoked,’ one said. 

The 27-year-old Hitchins subsequently called out fellow American Teofimo Lopez straight after the bout. 

Some took to social media to blast the decision, with Shakur Stevenson writing: ‘Bro whoever scored 117-111 Paro need to never score a boxing match every again! That was the wildest scorecard I ever seen in my life!!!’

‘I want Teofimo in New York, Brooklyn. Unification,’ Hitchins said. 

‘I think that would be one of the biggest fights of 2025, a very lucrative fight.

‘I don’t belong in the ring with nobody else but the top level of boxing.’

Paro labelled Hitchins a ‘quitter’ in the lead-up to Saturday’s bout, and promised to take his opponent to some ‘very dark places’.

The Australian had the better of the early exchanges, but Hitchins’ left-right combo came to the fore from round five onwards and he was deservedly crowned the winner.