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Hitchins falls ill and the IBF title defense against Duarte is canceled

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LAS VEGAS – Richardson Hitchins’ IBF junior welterweight title defense against Oscar Duarte has been canceled due to the champion’s illness, The Ring announced Saturday.

The fight was one of two 140-pound title fights on “The Ring: High Stakes” card and was the main event of Mario Barrios’ WBC welterweight title defense against Ryan Garcia at T-Mobile Arena.

Brooklyn fighter Hitchins (20-0, 8 KO) reportedly became ill shortly after gaining weight on Friday and was vomiting before being removed on Saturday from the second defense of the 2024 title he won against Liam Paro.

The IBF is implementing a rehydration clause that requires fighters to weigh no more than 10 pounds above their weight class limit. Hitchins spoke at Thursday’s press conference about the hydration clause and its impact on his performance against Gustavo Lemos in April 2024, which he won by a narrow unanimous decision and looked sluggish at the end of the fight.

The fight gained momentum this week as Hitchins and Mexican Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KO) escalated the trash talk. However, with Hitchins withdrawing, fans will not be able to see the outcome of their fight. It is unknown whether the fight will be postponed to a later date or whether Hitchins will decide to change weight.

The second main event of the evening will be Gary Antuanne Russell’s defense of his WBA junior welterweight title against Andy Hiraoka.

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight: ‘It’s going to sound crazy’

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “This is going to sound mad”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to face each other later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time.

Another British legend, Naseem Hamed, presented the course of the fight in a surprising way.

Fury had his ring returned within a a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this monthshaking off ring rust at the age of 37 and allegedly preparing for a showdown with Joshua that the “Gypsy King” was set to take place this summer.

However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.

I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.

“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.

“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.

“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.

“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”

It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.

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Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker’s summer fight plan

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Image: Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker summer fight plan

Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests

Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.


Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.

Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.

“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.

Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.

Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.

“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”

Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.

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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38

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Oscar De La Hoya admits that he would consider returning on one condition

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Oscar De La Hoya admits he would consider comeback under one condition

Six-division world champion and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t fought since 2008, but revealed he would be willing to return for one fighter.

De La Hoya is a newfangled pound-for-pound legend, being one of only two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan favorite Manny Pacquiao, who has reached eighth in this ultra-elite club.

While De La Hoya has moved on to promote the sport, “Pac Man” recently returned to the pro ranks, challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147-pound ruler.

Pacquiao could only get a draw in that fight, but now he’s ready for an even bigger fight – at least financially – after signing a contract for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who defeated him in 2015 in the “Fight of the Century.”

Time will tell whether this fight will have an impact on Mayweather’s renowned 50-0 record or not. “TBE” apparently wants to change his contract to an exhibition fight despite signing a contract for sanctioned competition.

If that fight takes place in September, Mayweather will come out on top again, De La Hoya said Fighting the noise that he would also be willing to have a rematch with Mayweather.

“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”

Mayweather defeated De La Hoya by split decision to win the WBC super lightweight title in 2007, and De La Hoya still maintains he deserved to win the fight.

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