“Everybody wants to fight me”

IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins took to social media today to ask why “everyone” wants to fight him after Frank Martin called him out. Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) has gotten used to being the one chasing fights out of luck.

Hitchins becomes the hunted

Former Matchroom promoter Hiitchins, 28, has half a dozen fighters at 140 pushing him for a fight, and he doesn’t seem interested in fighting any of them. Hitchins is now the hunted kindseen as food by the talented fighters at 140 who could end his reign as a champion.

Copy of Shakur — Without the bite

Fighters consider Hitchins an easy mark, who lacks power, struggled against Gustavo Lemos and turned down fights against fellow 140-lb champions Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias. In other words, fighters see Hitchins as weak and scary. Richardson is seen as a copy of Shakur Stevenson, but not a good one.

The Six Sharks at 140

1. Gary Antoine Russell
2. Subriel Mathias
3. Keyshawn Davis
4. Ernesto Mercado
5. Frank Martin
6. Jamaine Ortiz

Hitchins has yet to schedule a fight after defeating former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. knocked out in the eighth round on June 14, 2025. He split with promoter Eddie Hearn after that fight.

No Turki call, no battle in sight

At the time it seemed he thought he was going to be scooped up by Turki Alalshikh for a big money fight like Edgar Berlanga was after he announced his contract with Hearn expired on March 15, 2025, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Now, Hitchins has no fights scheduled, and the guys he called out, Teofimo Lopez, Brian Norman Jr., and Devin Haney, have yet to agree to fight him.

Norman Sr. said his son would be willing to fight Hitchins next, but it’s unclear if that’s the case. As WBO welterweight champion Norman Jr. knocking out Haney on November 22, Turki Alalshikh will likely be offered a big fight against Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, or a rematch with Haney.

The situation currently looks bleak for Hitchins. He might have to consider agreeing to face one of the six sharks who called him out at 140, or he’ll be sitting out for a long time.

You can’t fake it forever

If Hitchins is as good as he says he is, he should have no trouble beating out Antuanne Russell, Matias and Keyshawn Davis. Of course, if he isn’t, he will lose his IBF belt and be sent back to the contender ranks where Eddie Hearn found him. You can’t fake it forever.

Martin joins the feeding frenzy

Why every body wants to fight me 😂 https://t.co/kjFo6qohXV

— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) November 12, 2025

Frank Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) has already scheduled a fight against Rances Barthelemy on December 6, 2025, at the Isaac ‘Pitbull Cruz vs. Lamont Roach map in San Antonio, Texas. So, if Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) is already calling out Hitchins, that means he’s planning ahead, assuming he’s going to beat Roach.