Richardson Hitchins is being grilled by fans on social media today after calling himself the “best fighter in the sport.”
Fans have reminded IBF light welterweight champion Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) that he is avoiding fights and will not face his four-time conqueror, WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell. He was called out by Russell but won’t face him.
“Best fighter in the sport of boxing. Can’t wait for my moment to prove it,” says Richardson Hitchins X.
Hitchins wants the big names: Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Ryan Garcia. He can’t get any of them because he hasn’t faced the top dogs at 140, like Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias and Ernesto Mercado, to build his name.
Hitchins recently left Matchroom after they booked him for an easy title defense against George Kambosos Jr. on June 14. Promoter Eddie Hearn hoped to re-sign Richardson to a new contract. But Hitchins surprised by announcing his free agency immediately after his fight against Kambosos. Hearn was not happy.
Since Brooklyn, New York native Hitchins doesn’t want to fight Antuanne Russell or Matias, he’s stuck in a position where he doesn’t have the name recognition to get the fights he wants. But he doesn’t take the risky fights that will help him make a name for himself. He further hurt his case by leaving Matchroom and becoming a free agent.
It worked for Edgar Berlanga to leave Matchroom after they landed him a lucrative fight against Canelo Alvarez. Earlier this year, he was given a headline fight against Hamzah Sheeraz on Turki Alalshikh’s card on July 12 in Queens, New York. Turki did not bless Hitchins in the same way, and he has been inactive since the Kambosos fight.
If Hitchins took the fight against Russell, he would get a lot of attention from fans, and it would be the perfect match to increase his popularity. The downside is that Russell could beat him for a fifth time. Fighting him or Matias is the best way for Hitchins to come up.
Last updated on 28/11/2025
