Richardson Hitchins says he wants the winner of the November 22 fight between Devin Haney and WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr.
We’re calling on Haney’s winner, Norman Jr
IBF 140-pound champion Hitchins (20-0, 8 KO) says he will move up to 147 pounds and immediately challenge the winner of Haney vs. Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight belt. He says he “argued” with Norman Sr. and previously sparred with Brian Jr.
It is doubtful whether Haney or Norman Jr. they will want to take on defensive artist Hitchins because he is not popular. There are bigger potential fights for the winner against the following fighters:
Ryan Garcia
Teofimo Lopez
Shakur Stevenson
Conor Benn
Rolando “Rolly” Romero
Mario Barrios
Fans cry: ‘Movement of desperation’
Fans on social media see Hichins’ signal today as: a sign of desperation. Hitchins didn’t put up as much of a fight as he might have thought when he became a free agent.
He recently split with his promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, after successfully guiding him to the IBF welterweight title against Liam Paro and then setting him up for an basic first defense against former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr.
‘Betrayal’ heard in the match room
Hearn received thanks for Richardson announcing his free agency in the ring after Kambosos Jr., signaling that he had no intention of re-signing Hearn. For some fans it was the so-called the ultimate act of betrayalshowing disloyalty to Hearn for everything he has done for him. He was seen as a rear stable for the Matchroom boss.
“Brian Norman to fight me after Devin Haney. I’m ready to fight at 147. In my first fight [at welterweight]I will go on stage and challenge the winner of Devin Haney and Brian Norman for the WBO world championship,” said Richardson Hitchins Ring on Xjumping the line at 147, ahead of welterweight contenders.
Who Hitchins should really fight next
Hitchins has plenty of compelling fights in his 140 weight class without having to resort to begging Norman Jr. and Hitchins. Here are the notable options for Hitchins at welterweight if he’s willing to take the risk:
Ernesto Mercado
Gary Antuanne Russell
Keyshawn Davis
Subriel Mathias
Albert Puello
Kevin Brown
Jamaine Ortiz
Dalton Smith
Oscar Duarte
Kenneth Sims
“Brian Norman’s dad was arguing, saying he wanted to fight me next. In a few months, if I’m available and Brian Norman is available, let’s make that fight. I don’t understand why. Me and Brian Norman have already boxed in the gym. So we know each other. So I think it would be good to do it for a real championship,” Hitchins said.
Tom Galm has been busy on the global boxing scene since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, business trends and fighter psychology.
Haney won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently he defeated Brian Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight world title.
Both men have impressed in their recent wins and are widely considered two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between the two has been discussed for a long time, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality if one key hurdle can be overcome – an agreed weight limit.
This problem is not effortless to solve and may prove too stern for negotiations to overcome. Haney said he felt best at welterweight and looked exhausted at super lightweight. Stevenson argues that his opponent faced Jose Ramirez at the 144-pound catchweight last year and could do the same again. While Haney handled the weight well and performed well on the night, there is no doubt he would have been at a disadvantage.
Stevenson, however, argued that he is still a natural lightweight – even though he looks comfortable against Lopez at 140 pounds – and that a meeting under the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.
Time will tell whether this can be agreed behind the scenes. A significant amount could assist move things forward, but given their undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and position as the face of American boxing, both Stevenson and Haney will be cautious in making decisions.
David Benavidez doesn’t think size alone will decide his fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Ahead of the cruiserweight title clash, Benavidez says the advantage will come down to speed, combinations and a style that he feels Ramirez hasn’t faced before.
Benavidez said Ramirez is a bigger man and is used to facing naturally bigger opponents in the cruiserweight division, but he doesn’t see it as a problem. He believes the slower pace typical of this weight will work to his advantage once the punches start falling.
Benavidez said Ramirez has never faced someone like him in an official fight. Although both have sparred in the past, Benavidez has made it clear that he sees a major difference between rounds in the gym and fighting him under the lights for twelve rounds.
“There are a lot of opportunities to hit him with a lot of combinations because he is slower,” Benavidez told Double3 Coverage. “My speed, my movement and my defense will be too much for him and I will surely overwhelm and drown him with pressure and volume.”
It’s compelling that he so casually disregards the size difference. While Zurdo Ramirez is a natural cruiserweight and holds the unified WBA/WBO titles, Benavidez is betting that speed and volume will be the universal equalizer.
Benavidez sounds like a man who thinks he’s found a flaw in the system. Moving up to cruiserweight, he believes his hand speed will be a blur compared to fighters in the 200-pound division. But here comes the fear of a massacre.
He already says this is “his era.” When a fighter begins to look beyond a unified champion like Ramirez toward a September coronation or a legacy-defining run, he usually leaves his chin exposed.
On the other hand, bookmakers do not predict a massacre, at least not in the case of Benavidez. There’s a reason he’s a -600 favorite. Most analysts believe he is just unique enough that his volume will break Zurdo’s rhythm before the size difference becomes a factor.
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 vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Shakur Stevenson has hit the brakes following reports that he is in preliminary talks to fight Devin Haney.
Both elite Americans have claims to pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered among the most defensively gifted operators of the contemporary era.
However, a weight class or two has always separated them, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division Stevenson says he can get to but is in no rush – seemed to make that fight less likely.
To make that happen, Stevenson said he would like Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144 pounds, the same limit he reached when defeating Jose Ramirez in 2025.
Today, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that discussions had already begun, but the weight was a sticking point, with Stevenson likely still insisting on the stipulation, but Haney was keen on staying at 147 pounds.
However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim by speaking further X that there was no contact between the teams.
“I know the fans like to get excited and can toy with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time. I haven’t heard a word about it, [I don’t know] what are they? [trying to] hide or hide, but me and my team haven’t heard any nonsense.”
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