Boxing
Richardson Hitchins was off after leaving 140 for 147
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.
Carlos Adames said he can beat anyone at middleweight and super middleweight, but the statement was met with immediate backlash from newly crowned IBF super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias. After Adames announced he was ready to fight, the undefeated Cuban responded on social media, calling for the fight to go ahead.
The exchange began when Carlos Adames stated that no one at 160 or 168 pounds could beat him. The fan quickly challenged him to fight Iglesias, one of the most hazardous names in the super middleweight division.
“Who are you? What I do in the ring confirms what I say here. Whenever you want, I’m ready to prove it to you,” Adames said in X.
That was met with a direct response from Iglesias (15-0, 14 KO), who is coming off an eighth-round victory over Pavel Silyagin and gained traction at 168 pounds after winning the IBF title.
“Enough talking. Let’s get on the same page and take the fight to the next level. I’m waiting for your call. My team is ready. I’m waiting for you,” said Osleys Iglesias.
Adames holds the middleweight title while Iglesias is one division above, so any fight would require one side to advance. This alone makes it more sedate than a routine online argument.
This exchange with Iglesias bears all the hallmarks of a potential bluff by Adames. Iglesias is now viewed by many as the 168-pound boss who stopped Pavel Silyagin in the eighth round just two weeks ago.
He’s a powerful southpaw with a 93% knockout rate, which isn’t usually the type of guy a champion fights unless he’s 100% sedate or looking for a huge payday.
Fans will soon find out if this was Adames’ social media stunt if he starts demanding a catchweight fight with Iglesias or tells him to drop down to 160 pounds. If he tells IBF 168-pound champion Iglesias to back off, he will simply be looking for a way out. It will be a foregone conclusion if he stays on X and does not lead to official negotiations between Adames’ promoters at PBC and Iglesias’ team.
The southpaw Iglesias is essentially a airy heavyweight who can reach 168 pounds and would also have significant height and an advantage over Adames. If Adames is sedate, he’s taking one of the toughest routes possible to make a super middleweight debut.
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Last updated: 23/04/2026 at 10:29
While talking about failed drug tests in boxing, host Simon Jordan cited an earlier estimate by panelist Spencer Oliver, who suggested the number could be as high as 70 percent. Hamed immediately disputed this statement.
“That’s a tough statement,” Hamed told talksport Boxing when the number was repeated during the episode.
“The same applies to me personally. Don’t take it personally. It’s like destroying the players, 70% of them,” Hamed said.
It was vintage “Naz” stuff, seeing him come out waving to players like that. He has always been devoted to the craft and clearly sees the 70% result as a slap in the face to the guys who live neat and do grueling work.
Oliver responded that this was his opinion based on repeated failed tests and suspicions surrounding the sport, not evidence against specific names. Hamed was not convinced and said that charges should only be brought when the militant was actually caught.
“You can’t accuse any single person unless he or she has been caught,” Hamed said.
Hamed’s point about “destroying” warriors is the most compelling part of his argument. When someone like Spencer Oliver comes up with a huge number, like 70%, it creates a lasting cloud of suspicion.
This means that even if a player delivers a legendary, career-defining performance, the first thing some fans will do is look for a reason to discredit him. For a legend like Hamed, this is an insult to the discipline required in this sport.
Hamed is the guy who shows me the bills. By insisting that no one can be charged until they are caught, he seeks to maintain some level of due process. In his eyes, if you have failed the VADA or UKAD exam, you are a pure athlete. Period.
What’s captivating is that Hamed doesn’t take it lightly. While supporting strict accountability policies, he says people should not be labeled as fraudsters without evidence. If the test comes back positive, you own it, regardless of tainted meat or supplement excuses.
This is an truthful position. He wants to protect the reputation of good actors in sports while making sure the hammer continues to fall on anyone caught breaking the rules.
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