Hitchins says money comes first in combat decisions

Hitchins takes an alternative route to becoming a money fighter by facing the less-than-best. He finds out the hard way that his strategy isn’t working fast enough.

Hitchins is 28, and the closest he’s come to a decent payday is fighting down-and-out, struggling former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. fight last June.

Brooklyn, New York native Hitchins can step things up and beat the talented fighters at 140, such as Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias, but he hasn’t shown the motivation to do so thus far. Fighting them would be the ideal way for Hitchins to enter the bracket of the high paying fighters like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and now Shakur Stevenson.

“The fight with me with all these guys will happen, but money is a deciding factor,” Richardson Hitchins said. YSM Sports Media. “I’m not going to fight a guy for a certain kind of money I feel I deserve more than that. It’s with anyone.”

Why the Keyshawn fight didn’t happen

Hitchins is believed to have priced himself into the January 31st card by asking $2.5 million for a fight against inactive former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis for what would have been the co-feature slot. $2.5 million isn’t that much compared to the money Haney and Ryan enjoy at 147.

Hitchins doesn’t have the same fanbase as those fighters to get him the nice paydays they receive.

“Crawford wouldn’t have fought Canelo if the money wasn’t right. Floyd would never have fought Pacquiao if the money wasn’t right. So, you’ll get all the fights,” Hitchins said, comparing his situation to the greats.

There is a big difference between the likes of Crawford and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and their career situations. Those fighters took risks for many years before finally getting the big paydays late in their careers.

Time Works Against Him

In contrast, Hitchins did not take the risks, and he is closing in on 29. He now has to start taking chances with risky fights for less money so he can build his name. What he’s doing now is putting the cart before the horse and expecting to get the huge paydays without putting in the hard work initially.

“The boxing world will get all the fights they want. But the fighters have to make sure that when we go out there to risk our lives, we’re compensated, and we’re treated fairly,” Hitchins said.