The fight will be a voluntary defense for Hitchins, a signal of trust rather than obligation. Duarte brings constant pressure and experience from Robert Garcia’s camp, making him credible enough to test the champion without forcing a mandatory situation.
Why he thinks pressure wins
“I don’t think he can last 12 rounds with me,” Duarte said Xicana boxing. “I’ll be like a train, I’ll run over it and through it. I don’t think it’ll be able to hold me for 12 rounds.”
Duarte rejected the notion that Hitchins underestimated him. He said the champion understood exactly what kind of task he was taking on and could have gone in a different direction with an easier defense. Duarte acknowledges that Hitchins took the fight, but considers the choice significant given the type of pressure he intends to apply.
Duarte recognized Hitchins as a skilled mobile operator, while emphasizing that it is most arduous to maintain these qualities when the pace is forced and exchanges are no longer selective. His confidence is based on the belief that sustained pressure ultimately destroys structure, especially when applied from the first rounds.
This view may appeal to those who saw Hitchins forced into uncomfortable stretches in the Gustavo Lemos fight, when the pressure briefly disrupted his usual distance control.
Hitchins has built his title run on range control and selective strike exchanges, which makes any opponent capable of maintaining pressure for rounds a significant variable rather than a stylistic formality.
Looking beyond February, Duarte already has another name in mind. He said he expected Ryan Garcia to beat Mario Barrios and believed that result would give him a rematch.
“I’m winning the championship and I want unification,” Duarte said. “I can go to 147, no problem.”
This confidence is effortless to express before the gong. The fight itself will show whether Duarte’s pressure can push Hitchins to a pace he won’t be able to maintain for twelve rounds.
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.