Much of the criticism dates back to February 21, when Hitchins’ scheduled fight against Oscar Duarte was canceled on fight day in circumstances that many fans still find strange. This episode has already destroyed goodwill. Monday’s announcement reopened them.
Opponent supporters also pointed to names Hitchins has not fought at 140 pounds. Keyshawn Davis, Ernesto Mercado and Gary Antuanne Russell were mentioned multiple times by fans who believed Hitchins left the division before settling on the strongest challenges available.
The common theory is that this move is more about money than legacy. The welterweight division offers possible future business under bigger trade names like Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Conor Benn, all of whom have higher value than most 140-pound contenders.
It definitely looks like Hitchins is looking for a green belt of financial diversity. While promotion is often portrayed as a quest for a “legacy” or “two-division glory”, the timing and names suggest it is chasing huge revenues that trail the Gigantic Three with 147 places.
The welterweight division is currently home to some of the biggest commercial fighters outside of the heavyweight scene.
At 140, Hitchins was stuck in a bad situation. Fighters like Ernesto Mercado and Gary Antuanne Russell are talented boogeymen who carry huge risks without pay-per-view rewards. By jumping to 147, Hitchins can bypass these risky opponents under the guise of striving for greatness while also preparing for the Conor Benn or Ryan Garcia sweepstakes.
For years, Hitchins used his enormous frame to his advantage in the junior welterweight division. However, cutting weight was clearly becoming a challenge, especially after Duarte’s defeat on February 21.
Moving up allows him to stop struggling and potentially save his chin for the stronger welterweights, while still focusing on the prize: a huge payday that just didn’t come close to 140 pounds.
Ultimately, the main motivation seems to be fighting for more money. At 147 the water is deeper, but the gold at the bottom is much shinier.
There is also a practical side. Hitchins has long had a reputation as a weight bully due to his size advantage in the division. Many believe he should have moved up to welterweight ages ago rather than waste his strength and apply his natural size to fight smaller opponents.
Now he gets what he asked for. At 147, the size advantage shrinks, the punches hit harder, and the criticism won’t go away unless the names improve.
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.