From the opening bell, Hitchins established the piston-like jab that carried him to a world title at 140 pounds. Salas tried to work his way inside with body shots, but each advance was met by another stiff jab or straight right. Whenever Salas managed to close the distance, Hitchins circled away or tied him up before the Mexican could work. The tactic kept Salas from building any sustained offense, although it also slowed the pace and produced long stretches with little action.
The Brooklyn native looked physically comfortable despite moving up in weight. His footwork kept Salas chasing, and his shoulder-roll defense caused many punches to miss. The performance resembled the style Shakur Stevenson has used throughout his career, relying on distance control, quick exits, and frequent clinches to neutralize attacks rather than standing in the pocket.
The pattern remained the same through the middle rounds. Hitchins piled up points behind the jab, accurate right hands, and left hooks before retreating whenever Salas pressed forward. Once Salas reached him, Hitchins often wrapped him up until the referee called for a break. It wasn’t the most entertaining fight on the card, but the strategy prevented Salas from finding any rhythm.
Salas continued marching forward over the final rounds, refusing to give up despite taking clean shots. Hitchins never abandoned the game plan. His corner encouraged him to press harder in search of a stoppage, yet he stayed committed to boxing safely from the outside instead of taking unnecessary chances.
After the fight, Hitchins revealed that his right hand began bothering him around the sixth round because of an injury suffered in training camp. Even with the issue, he finished the contest without appearing troubled.
Hitchins later mentioned Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney as opponents he wants next. His first appearance at welterweight left little doubt about his technical ability, even if the safety-first style won’t appeal to fans looking for action. It produced a complete shutout on the scorecards, showing that Hitchins has already become difficult to solve at 147 pounds.
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