Richardson Hitchins reiterated today that he is willing to move up to 147 to fight the winner of the November 22nd fight between WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. and fighting Devin Haney.
The easiest route possible
Brooklyn, New York native Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) wants an outright title shot in his first fight at 147 rather than earning it by fighting the top contenders waiting in the WBO rankings. This is a backwards way trying to get a title shot, and it might not work, since Hitchins isn’t popular with casual fans. It’s a formula. Beat a soft opponent, then call up fighters above your pay grade who have earned their way.
No Matias, No Russell
Richardson doesn’t show a willingness to fight the top contenders or champions at 140 to gain popularity. Instead of Richardson fighting top guys like Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias at 140, he’s content to fight George Kambosos Jr.
“I can promise you it’s going to be a solid opponent, but I can’t promise you I won’t make him look like a cupcake,” said Richardson Hitchins Ring Magazine about his next fight. “After my win over Kambosos, I called out guys like Devin Haney. I called out Teofimo Lopez.”
The only two notable contenders on the IBF’s top 15 contender rankings are Jamaine Ortiz and Ernesto Mercado. It is highly unlikely that Hitchins will fight either of these two as they will have an excellent chance of making him look like a cupcake.
Hitchins manager Keith Connolly is unlikely to choose Jamaine or Tito Mercado as his next opponent, as they may take away his bargaining chip by dethroning him of his IBF 140-lb title. We saw how much trouble Hitchins had with Gustavo Lemos on April 6, 2024, winning a questionable 12-round unanimous decision.
Many boxing fans felt that Lemos deserved the win in that fight. To say that Hitchins was exposed was an understatement. The judges gave him the decision with scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. He didn’t look like he was the winner. The fight showed Hitchins is vulnerable to pressure. He has so ugly Haney and Shakur-esque style. The kryptonite for that style is sheer pressure.
Titled Ambition
“I’m willing to go up to 147 and challenge some of the champions up there,” Hitchins said. “At 140, make some unifications happen. It’s all about making the biggest fights for me. I’m champion now. I’m in my prime. It’s time for me to prove to the world who Richardson Hitchins is.”
If Hitchins wants to fight the top guys at 140, he needs to start doing so, as he has repeatedly been called out by the belt holders at the top contenders without agreeing to fight one of them. These fighters called out Hitchins:
- Gary Antoine Russell
- Subriel Mathias
- Alberto Puello
- Keyshawn Davis
- Ernesto Mercado
“I’m willing to go up to 147 in my first fight and challenge the winner of Devin Haney and Brian Norman for the WBO World Championship. After a great win over Kambosos I felt it was fair for me to say I was a free agent to see what the best offers would come my way,” says Hitchins.
What Hitchins needs to do if he wants to fight for a world welterweight title is to vacate his IBF 140-lb title first. Then move up and work your way through these contenders to earn a title shot:
- Shakhram Giyasov
- Karen Chukhadjian
- Eimantas Stanionis
- Raul Curiel
A fanbase that isn’t there
Teofimo Lopez rejected the idea of fighting Hitchins earlier this week, saying the networks and promoters don’t want to pay him the money he’s asking for because of a lack of a fan base. Lopez says to the 10-8 Podcast that Hitchins wants “X amount of money that promoters at networks aren’t willing to give him yet because he has to build that fanbase around him.”
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/787807
Last updated on 30/10/2025
