According to Hearnprevious issues included in that decision. DAZN selected other fighters for the card, including Keyshawn Davis, and Hitchins was left out of the lineup. With that door closed for now, Hearn pointed to Smith as an alternative.
Smith is now the WBC junior welterweight champion after his fifth round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center. The result was decisive, but the performance raised questions. Smith mixed in more exchanges than expected but still relied heavily on pinning and disruption to prevent Matias from building sustained momentum, an approach similar to how Liam Paro handled Matias in 2024.
That approach would prove more difficult against Hitchins.
Hitchins fights at a distance and prioritizes remote control. He is not easy to pin down and does not linger in exchanges. If Smith can’t slow him down inside, he’ll likely be pushed into a fight decided by jabs and short outside shots. That’s not where Smith has been most effective.
Timing also plays a role. The IBF is expected to move on Hitchins’ mandatory commitment to Lindolfo Delgado soon. A unification battle would override that requirement, giving the Smith option practical relevance beyond casual talk.
Hitchins signed with Matchroom in December, removing one potential roadblock, although that alone does not signal movement towards a Smith fight. Hearn mentioned February 21 as a possible date for Hitchins’ return and suggested Hillsborough as a potential venue if a reunification ever materialised.
That detail will matter. Hitchins would travel to a strong home environment for Smith, a factor that should be reflected financially.
There were no negotiations between Hitchins and Smith. Historically, Hitchins has been selective in his choice of opponents, especially when titles and location are involved.
