Hitchins dismissed the idea that Salas’ style will create serious problems. Instead, he insisted Salas’ only path to victory is landing one big punch.

“I’m going to stop him regardless, but I’m going to stop him quicker if he comes in the ring and just fights off heart because heart will get you killed,” said Hitchins to Ryan Songalia. “The only chance he got is landing a lucky punch. If he don’t land that lucky punch, it’s going to be a long night for him. I’m in shape. I’m dialed in mentally. My weight is good.”

The confidence isn’t surprising after Hitchins spent months talking about how difficult it had become to make 140 pounds. He has said the move to welterweight will allow him to perform at a higher level after no longer having to drain himself before fights.

Hitchins already has his eye on the names he wants once he gets past Salas. Conor Benn sits at the top of that list.

“I want to fight Conor Benn. Bring on Stanionis. He’s with Zuffa also. Bring Conor Benn. Bring on Julian Rodriguez,” said Richardson. “Bring on Brian Norman if I can’t get one of the champions, one of the big names. I don’t want to fight Liam Paro again. It’s not that I’m scared of him. I just already beat him.

“I just want the best guys at 147 to prove that I’m pound for pound. In another year or two I should be in the pound-for-pound conversation.”

Moving up to 147 could compound Hitchins’ problems. At 140, he struggled against pressure fighter Gustavo Lemos, winning a controversial decision. He bailed out on his fight against Oscar Duarte last February due to sickness, leaving the division without facing Ernesto Mercado, Gary Antuanne Russell, Duarte, or Andy Hiraoka. In the fights he did have, his size advantage helped mask flaws against smaller foes. That edge disappears at welterweight, where he may quickly learn how tough life gets without it.

A dominant victory over Salas tonight brings Hitchins one step closer to securing the lucrative marquee fights he wants next.