Connect with us

Boxing

Richardson Hitchins has the belt, but the market has moved

Published

on

Image: Richardson Hitchins Is In the Mix With Haney, Shakur and Teofimo

The belts are still valid, but their value depends on who you defeat and where the fight takes place. You need wins that will get people talking when the bell rings. Hitchins did exactly what was asked of him in the ring. The problem was that he didn’t have the right stage or substantial names to turn his skills into a real star.

The situation is even more hard because he fights just like Shakur Stevenson. Both fighters keep their distance, avoid substantial fights and prefer to dominate through technical skills. It’s not a matter of talent. Stevenson had his substantial victories on major television networks where everyone was watching. Hitchins was winning quietly. His victories occurred, but they did not augment his popularity

The 140-pound division simply doesn’t have the names left to fix it. At one point, Teofimo Lopez was the favorite to fight for the money, but he never seemed interested. Now that Stevenson has beaten him convincingly, Lopez is no longer the draw he once was. A fading name won’t bring much profit or justify taking risks, especially for a champion who needs attention. Previously, this duel was very risky, but now it makes no sense.

The junior welterweight division is left with a miniature and ugly slate of choices. Guys like Ernesto Mercado and Gary Antuanne Russell are perilous in the ring, but they don’t bring in the fans or cash to make the risk worth it. This compromise may have paid off when the belt gave you the advantage, but those days are gone. Competitors make their calculations early and move on.

Moving up to welterweight is a completely different game. That’s where the money and cameras go. Large names like Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Ryan Garcia and Keyshawn Davis are all looking towards 147. Even smaller fights gain traction by being close to these stars, which leads to better TV slots and much bigger paydays. It’s much easier to sell a player that needs to be introduced when the stage is already huge.

Hitchins looks at the movement because the logic cannot be ignored. He is focused on finding the real deal, which proves he truly understands how today’s game works. In this era, success is based on performing in front of an audience, not just climbing the rankings.

Staying still has its limits. Hitchins is talented, but there are people at 140 who can be quite upsetting if he has an off night. None of these opponents offer a substantial enough reward to make it worth sticking around. At 147, the risks are different, but the potential for stardom is much greater. This is how players have to plan their careers these days.

The overall picture is uncomplicated. In this era, a bar only attracts attention if you are already popular. Hitchins won his title without the hype that usually accompanies it. When this happens, sitting and waiting rarely solves the problem. The players go to where the crowd is already gathered.

For Hitchins, moving up from junior welterweight doesn’t mean leaving the job half-done. He simply realizes that the division has nothing left to offer him. This awareness is more significant than having a belt, because it actually determines the further direction of your career.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

Richard Torrez Jr. preparing for “two good knees”

Published

on

Image: Richard Torrez Jr. Preparing For “Two Great Knees” Against Frank Sanchez

Torrez said that he does not expect a weakened opponent when they meet at the Glory in Giza gala, headlined by Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven.

“Yeah, I think it’s definitely in the back of my mind,” Torrez Jr. said. Mr. Verzace in Ring Magazine when asked about Sanchez’s knee problems. “But I’m going out there preparing for the best, Frank. I’m going out there preparing for Frank, who has two great knees. That’s the Frank I hope to expect because I want to fight the best. I don’t want to fight someone who’s 60% fit.”

“I think his team, doing their due diligence, wouldn’t let him get in the ring with me when he’s at 60% power, and that’s why they postponed the last fight. So I’m 100% ready for Frank Sanchez.”

Torrez also provided a technical breakdown of Sanchez’s style and said that pressure could be the key to breaking him over time.

“I think Frank, being of Cuban descent, has that Cuban style. He can kick his ass when he needs to,” Torrez Jr. said. about Sanchez. “I think he has a very robust backhand. I think he knows how to put you to sleep in the moment where he can hit the shot he wants.”

“But I think he lacks pace. If you’re able to take control of it and put pressure on him and impose your will on him, I think that’s where things start to basically break down in the game plan. I think we saw that with Kabayel.”

The 2024 Olympic silver medalist also revealed that his professional career almost never happened at all. Torrez admitted he believes he would have retired from boxing had he won gold instead of silver in Paris.

“If I won gold, I would retire. I wouldn’t box anymore. That would be it. I would feel like I achieved what I needed to achieve,” Torrez Jr. said.

“I feel that winning silver has given me the drive and determination to prove something not only to myself but to everyone who has sacrificed for me.”

Youtube video

Continue Reading

Boxing

Bob Arum wonders if Lomachenko needs money to pay back

Published

on

Image: Vasiliy Lomachenko Ends Retirement, Targets Big Fights

“Well, again, I don’t know what his financial situation is. He earned a lot of money from us. But, you know, he lives in Ukraine and there are a lot of problems there, maybe he needs money, or maybe he just wants to get away from home,” Arum said in an interview with Fighthype.

Arum’s comments drew attention because promoters rarely speculate publicly on whether a returning fighter might be financially motivated. Lomachenko hasn’t fought since stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. in the fight for the IBF lightweight title, and then left boxing.

The former three-division world champion is now 38 years venerable and has shown signs of decline in the later stages of his lightweight career. Losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney, as well as a complex stretch at 135 pounds, have raised questions about how much Lomachenko has left in his long absence from the ring.

Arum admitted he doesn’t know what version of Lomachenko will return if the comeback continues.

“I don’t know what, if anything, Lomachenko has lost after his two-year retirement. So it would be wrong to hypothesize how he would fare against all these younger guys. We’ll just have to see,” Arum said.

The interviewer asked Arum if Lomachenko would still be able to compete with younger names like Shakur Stevenson, Abdullah Mason and Raymond Muratalla, but Arum avoided making predictions.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the return, Arum continued to praise Lomachenko as one of the best fighters promoted by Top Rank during his career with the company.

“Loma represents the best of boxing. So I wish him all the best because he has been a great fighter for us and he truly embodies the best of boxing,” Arum said.

Youtube video

Continue Reading

Boxing

The most talented Dubois still attends school

Published

on

Solomon Dubois trains in the gym as the youngest member of the Dubois boxing family begins attracting attention in amateur boxing

The Dubois family has already produced two world champions. Now another name is starting to attract attention in British boxing.

Daniel Dubois and sister Caroline turned the family name into one of the most celebrated names in British boxing, but now a different Dubois is quietly emerging from the amateur ranks.

According to many, including Stanley’s father, Solomon Dubois may finally become the best of them all.

Another Dubois appears

The 13-year-old turned heads at national tournaments as he developed under the Dubois umbrella. Stanley, the man who helped shape Daniel and Caroline into world champions, is overseeing his second son’s progress.

Daniel himself has publicly endorsed Solomon to one day become a major force in the sport as the youngest member of the fighting family continues his rise.

This naturally creates expectations.

Over the years, a lot has been written and said about the Dubois family, but not all of it was positive. Family feuds, public disagreements, pressure and media attention have followed the name for much of Daniel and Caroline’s career.

Fresh chapter

However, in Solomon’s case, there is already a feeling that boxing could be the beginning of a fresh chapter.

As Daniel and Caroline gradually enter the final stages of their careers, Solomon is just beginning his own journey.

The pressure is already on, but he is following in the footsteps that will be able to impart significant knowledge.

When a family has already produced two world champions, expectations arise long before title fights or professional contracts emerge.

That’s what makes Solomon’s situation so fascinating, because the noise around him isn’t the result of random social media hype designed to produce the next substantial thing.

This belief clearly exists within the family itself.

Stanley has long suggested that Solomon may naturally possess an agility and raw ability that simply cannot be taught.

Dubois syndrome

The pressure comes early

At the same time, there is an obvious danger in placing too much expectation on someone so newborn.

The history of boxing is full of prospects who faced pressure before they were physically and mentally ready to handle it.

For now, Solomon remains a student learning his craft with one of the most recognizable names in British boxing.

A professional move and a likely collaboration with Frank Warren will almost certainly come later if he continues to make progress.

However, at the moment it’s simply a matter of keeping his feet on the ground as the attention around him continues to grow.

Because if the Dubois family’s beliefs prove correct, British boxing may finally discover that the most talented Dubois was the youngest all along.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending