Boxing
Brian Norman Sr. exposes Hitchins’ ‘straightforward job’ claim: sparring took place five years ago and was a ‘canda of mediocrity’
Published
7 months agoon
Brian Norman Sr. reacted to Richardson Hitchins’ sparring remarks in an interview today, revealing that his memory of what happened during his session with Norman Jr. is not what it seemed.
Hitchins said sparring with Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KO) was an “straightforward job.” According to Norman Sr., this was “mediocrity” on his part. He says it’s captivating that he insists on fighting the winner of WBO welterweight champion Norman Jr’s fight against Devin Haney on November 22, when he has fighters in his 140-pound weight class, such as WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell, calling him out.
“In sparring, he wasn’t at my level… Boxing-wise, it wasn’t a mystery to me. It wasn’t anything to discover,” Hitchins said this week on the 10-8 podcast about Norman Jr. is not at his level.
“A few mediocrities”
“These bums come five years later. What mediocrity excited you? You never heard it from anyone because it was just mediocrity,” Brian Norman Sr. said 10-8 Podcastin reaction to Richardson Hitchins stating that he dominated Brian Norman Jr. in sparring.
Interestingly, Norman Sr. reveals that the sparring between Brian Norman Jr. and Hitchins happened five years ago, not recently. The way Hitchins was talking this week made it seem like it happened recently. If it was five years ago, it was a lifetime ago. Norman Jr. he was only 19 years antique and sparring with a 23-year-old. Why didn’t Hitchins mention how long ago the sparring session was when he bragged about dominating Norman Jr?
“I’m talking about significant things. It wasn’t a significant sparring at all, and if it was significant, you’ve heard about it before. Why is he talking about Devin Haney and Brian Norman when people in his division are actively calling him out?” Norman Sr. said.
Hitchins’ comfortable silence
Hitchins’ interview improved his image as he discussed how he dominated Brian Norman Jr. over the last five years. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t true. Enough fans believed this actually happened that they viewed Hitchins as a viable opponent to face the winner of the Norman Jr. fight. vs. Haney, which took place on November 22.
“He’s a real son of a bitch. He’s embarrassed. He should be ashamed of calling himself ‘Africa’ because you don’t represent.” How can he leave Gary Antuanne Russell and call you names at every opportunity and you don’t say a word? People call you names because they know you’re no good. They’re calling you names because they want your belt,” Norman Sr. said.
Amateur albatross
Three potential reasons why Hitchins isn’t fighting WBA welterweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell:
- Hitchins lost to him 4 times in amateur competitions
- Not a very substantial name
- Focused on fighting for a paycheck
Losing four straight times to Gary Antuanne Russell in the amateur category is reason enough for Hitchins to stay away from him permanently. When you lose to a player so many times, it means he is simply too good for you.
It would be admirable if Richardson showed some backbone and went toe-to-toe with Russell, but it would ruin his quest for millions, in which he is racing against Brian Norman Jr., Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez.
Shakur’s plan
As long as Hitchins continues to fight the lower level fighters he faced, he will remain undefeated long enough to receive a substantial payday. He would follow Shakur Stevenson’s plan. Take on the Josh Padleys of the world, do lots of trash interviews, and post frequently on X.
Eventually, the substantial fight beyond your pay grade will fall into your lap, and you won’t have to earn it with risky fights. For Shakur, it worked.
Tom Galm has been covering the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.
Last update: 11/06/2025
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Boxing
Shakur Stevenson accuses Devin Haney of ‘false public negotiations’ after £144 settlement
Published
2 hours agoon
June 13, 2026
Potential negotiations between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson have taken another public turn after Stevenson accused his rival of engaging in “false public negotiations” following Haney’s latest comments on social media.
Haney appeared frustrated after previously agreeing to Stevenson’s proposed catchweight of 144 pounds, suggesting that even accepting those terms did not bring the fight any closer to becoming a reality.
“144 is not enough…I still don’t want to fight! Damn…@ShakurStevenson,” Haney wrote X.
Shakur later responded by dismissing this public exchange as a impoverished reflection of how main event fights actually unfold.
“The same thing you all did with Rolly. All those counterfeit public negotiations… The real negotiations take place offline.” I am the truth that you will see when you stand before me!!” Shakur posted.
Shakiur previously considered 144 pounds to be a fair compromise in a potential showdown with Haney, who has competed at welterweight in his most recent outings. Haney then signaled his willingness to accept the catchweight offer, sparking optimism that one of boxing’s most talked-about fights could gain momentum.
The latest exchange came shortly after the WBO confirmed that Haney must either defend his welterweight title against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis or risk losing the belt. While neither Haney nor Stevenson directly addressed the situation in their recent posts, the article did add another note to any future negotiations involving the former two-division world champions.
With Haney facing a WBO title decision and Shakur insisting that stern negotiations will take place behind closed doors, the pressure is now on both camps to determine whether the fight can go beyond an online exchange.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most critical fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/06/12 at 21:45
Boxing
Shakur Stevenson Doubles Down on Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence Prediction: ‘Can’t Beat Him’
Published
4 hours agoon
June 12, 2026
Shakur Stevenson maintained his predictions for the Errol Spence Jr vs. Tim Tszyu fight, believing that one fighter would be too “mentally tough” for the other.
The meeting of the two former world champions will take place on July 25 in Australia at weight of 158 pounds to accommodate Spence’s inactivity.
Even though Tszyu insisted on fighting at super welterweight, his opponent clearly felt the extra 4 pounds would be appropriate after his three-year layoff.
This long break came after Spence suffered a ninth-round stoppage loss to Terence Crawford, who became the undisputed king of the 147-pound division in surprisingly one-sided fashion.
Spence previously held the WBC, IBF and WBA titles with victories over Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and Yordenis Ugas, although a weight augment always seemed inevitable.
Now the 36-year-old hopes to revive his career against Tszyu, who is coming off a two-point win after losing to Sebastian Fundora last July.
While their rematch ended in the seventh round, Tszyu showed tremendous strength against Fundora in 2024, only to lose the WBO title via split decision.
Later that year, the Australian suffered a third-round defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev, with four-division world champion Stevenson saying: The whole fight against smoke that he thinks Spence is a level above him.
“I think so [Spence] I will do well. I wish Errol all the best; I hope Errol goes in there and beats Tim Tszyu.
“I’m an Errol Spence fan; I was okay with Errol Spence before [Crawford] fight. I know Errol is mentally forceful – Errol is a dog when it comes to fighting, so I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat him.
Stevenson previously suggested that Spence could “destroy” Tszyu, believing the 31-year-old’s style was tailor-made for “The Truth.”
Boxing
Shakur Stevenson expects the former champion to defeat Tim Tszyu
Published
6 hours agoon
June 12, 2026
Despite concerns about Errol’s long three-year absence from the ring, Shakur believes the former unified welterweight champion still has what it takes to beat Tszyu.
“I think so [Spence] I will do well. I wish Errol all the best; I hope Errol goes in there and beats up Tim Tszyu,” Shakur said on Andre Ward’s channel.
“I’m an Errol Spence fan; Errol Spence was OK before [Terence Crawford] fight. I know Errol is mentally robust. Errol is a dog when it comes to fighting, so I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat him.
Spence has not fought since a ninth-round loss to Crawford in July 2023 that cost him the WBC, WBA and IBF welterweight titles. After almost three years of break from competition, the 36-year-old is now trying to resume his career in a fresh weight class.
Meanwhile, Tszyu enters the fight with regained momentum after a arduous period in 2024. The former WBO junior middleweight champion bounced back from setbacks to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev with back-to-back victories to get back into position for his next marquee fight.
Shakur has previously expressed confidence in Spence’s chances against Tszyu, but his latest comments suggest he remains confident that the Texan’s experience, mentality and overall ability will be the deciding factor on July 25.
The fight will be one of the biggest tests of Spence’s career. While Tszyu is looking to secure a spectacular win that could redefine his position in the junior middleweight division, Errol will be looking to show that he can still compete at the highest level after an extended period of inactivity.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Shakur Stevenson accuses Devin Haney of ‘false public negotiations’ after £144 settlement
Shakur Stevenson Doubles Down on Tim Tszyu vs Errol Spence Prediction: ‘Can’t Beat Him’
Shakur Stevenson expects the former champion to defeat Tim Tszyu
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