IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins has called out notable fighters well beyond his pay grade. He wants Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez to agree to fight him readily. It didn’t happen.
Ring 6 Spotlight Missed
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) took a beating on social media this week for reportedly turning down a fight against the well-known Jamaine Ortiz for the undercard of Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson event on January 31st. Hitchins has denied turning down the Jamaine fight, but fans don’t believe him.
They think he wants tomato cans like his last opponent, George Kambosos Jr., so he can hold on to his IBF 140-lb title long enough for a mega-million fight to fall into his lap without having to risk losing his belt.
This is the perfect fight for Richardson to bring attention to himself by showcasing his talent at Turki Alalshikh’s Ring 6 event, which will have many boxing fans tuning in. For Hitchins to reject the Ortiz fight leaves fans wondering who the ideal fighter is outside of the big names he would agree to face.
Six Wolves Waiting
If Hitchins wants to gain popularity by fighting on next month’s January 31st card. Turki Alashikh must put his feet to the fire by telling him he must fight one of these wolves:
- Gary Antoine Russell
- Jamaine Ortiz
- Keyshawn Davis
- Ernesto Mercado
- Subriel Mathias
- Emiliano Vargas
Is it asking too much of Hitchins to fight two or three of those hungry wolves? He doesn’t have to fight the whole bunch, just two or three, and he’s there. He will get those fights that he wants to change his lifestyle and put him in a new tax bracket.
Understandably, Hitchins wants the payday fights that will make him a multi-millionaire, allowing him to Beverly Hills and Holmby Hills to live among the rich and famous. But to live among the super-rich, Hitchins must first walk through fire by beating the fighters on the above list.
Why Ryan and Haney won’t bite
Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Teofimo will never give him the fight he is begging for until he makes a name for himself. His fighting style is too defensive; he doesn’t want to engage, and he tends to move too much for one of those rich fighters to pick out.
Last updated on 12/09/2025
