IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins today informed WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell that he needs to build up his name before agreeing to fight him in a unification clash at 140.
A 0–4 History haunts
With an 0-4 record against Russell in the amateurs, it looks like a ducking move on Hitchins’ share, choose to reject a fight against him. It would be the ideal way for Hitchins to increase his popularity by capturing a second title at 140 in a unification clash against Antuanne Russell.
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) is not in a good position to turn down a unification fight against Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) as he is without an opponent after winning the vacant IBF title against George Kambosos Jr. won on June 14, 2025.
Brooklyn, New York native Richardson recently said he wants to fight the winner of last Saturday’s fight between WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. and Devin Haney fights, even though he never fought at 147. Now that Haney had emerged victorious in that fight, he and his father, Bill Haney, failed to mention Hitchins as a candidate for his first defense.
Avoid the True 140 King
This leaves Hitchins in a position where he has no options for a profitable fight at his disposal. Fight that many fans consider the true King of the 140-lb division, Gary Antuanne Russell, would help Hitchins earn a bigger name for himself.
If Richardson wants to be included in Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season events and receive the red-carpet treatment like Haney, fighting Russell is the way to get noticed.
Hitchins brushes off Russell
“(You) smoked me 4-0 and won’t even get her back. You ab**ch,” Gary Antuanne Russell opines X to Richardson Hitchins about his lack of courage to fight him to avenge his four losses.
“Shut up your hoe and go pick up your name. You still live off amateurs***. Clown 😂” says Richardson Hitchins reaction to Antoine Russell.
It’s hard not to see Hitchins’ rejection of a fight against Russell as avoidance on his part. Richardson lost to Antuanne Russell four times in the amateurs, including at the 2016 US Olympic Trials (Box-offs), which kept him from the team. So, after Hitchins lost, he chose to qualify for the Haitian 2016 Olympic team, since his parents are from that country.
Olympic wounds still fresh
Perhaps the unkindest cut of all was for Hitchins, who represents Haiti, against Antuanne Russell in his first match in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Russell beat Hitchins again by unanimous decision, eliminating him from the Olympics. After that bitter loss, you’d have to think Hitchins would want his comeback. Surprisingly, he doesn’t want to fight Russell and tells him, “Go get your name.”
Last updated on 24/11/2025
