His explanation shifts the focus from Duarte’s threat to Hitchins’ physical condition and whether he can perform at full strength without limitations.
Hitchins made the comments while discussing his previous title-winning performance, where he said the IBF’s strict rehydration limit prevented him from recovering properly after the weigh-in.
“I wasn’t able to rehydrate like I usually do,” Hitchins told Shawn Porter’s YouTube channel. “It played a big part in how I felt in the ring.”
The IBF enforces a second-day weigh-in rule that limits how much weight a fighter can regain after making the division limit official. Fighters who exceed the limit risk losing their title eligibility. Hitchins suggested that the requirement affected his stamina and physical output.
Condition now under scrutiny
Hitchins begins his fight with Duarte without the same restrictions, but his comments have created a new point of scrutiny. Hitchins won’t have that restriction this time, and it removes the explanation if he slows down. Duarte keeps coming, throwing often, and forcing opponents to work every round. If Hitchins fades again, it won’t be blamed on the scale.
Hitchins’ technical control has allowed him to dictate tempo in previous fights, but his own admission has raised questions about how his body reacts under full competitive conditions.
Hitchins maintained an undefeated professional record as he steadily progressed toward title contention. His win over Gustavo Lemos established him as a legitimate champion, but his explanation afterward changed how that performance could be interpreted.
“I was limited,” Hitchins said. “I couldn’t be fully myself.”
The fight with Duarte is now becoming more than a routine defense or appearance. It becomes a test of whether Hitchins can perform at his expected level without physical limitations affecting the result. His own explanation ensured that his condition, not just his opponent, will be part of the evaluation when he returns to the ring.
