Boxing
Robert Garcia calls Richardson Hitchins “afraid” of Duarte
“We all know and I know for sure because I keep learning more and more things,” Garcia told YSM Sports Media. “He asked the coaches, ‘How do you train a fighter to beat Duarte?’ He was afraid of fighting Duarte. He was worried.
Garcia then went further, saying that any player who seeks advice from outside coaches about an opponent is showing fear.
“If I find out that one of my fighters is asking different coaches, ‘How do you beat someone like Duarte?’ My fighter is A [expletive] pussy and scared,” Garcia said.
Robert claims Hitchins even contacted one of Duarte’s former opponents and asked how strenuous he hit.
“He goes and finds his opponent’s last opponent. ‘How strenuous does Duarte hit?’ Well, you’re scared, man,” Garcia said.
The comments add to a arduous week for Hitchins after O’Shaquie Foster also publicly questioned his toughness. Foster recently claimed that Hitchins has a reputation in boxing circles as fearful and heartless, citing the canceled Duarte fight as evidence.
The official explanation for Hitchins’ withdrawal from the February 21 fight was illness after the weigh-in. Reports at the time indicated that he began vomiting shortly after gaining weight, forcing him to cancel the gala just hours before the Las Vegas event.
Robert openly questioned this explanation. He argued that Hitchins looked fit at the weigh-in and that the fighter, who was allegedly vomiting all night, would not have hydrated the full 10 pounds the check scale allowed the next day.
“He withdrew because he was afraid of Duarte,” Garcia said. “The bottom line is that he asked Duarte’s coaches and former opponents how tough Duarte is. When a player does that, it means you are afraid.”
Boxing
Zab Judahs Final Prediction on Rolly Romero vs Teofimo Lopez: The Impact of KOing Sparring Partners
LIVE COVERAGE
World Boxing News provides live results and updates from George Liddard’s European middleweight title clash with Dario Morello at the Copper Box Arena in London.
The undefeated Liddard faces the biggest test of his career against experienced Italian Morello, with the vacant European middleweight championship on the line.
Three other vacant titles will be decided on the card as Jimmy Sains, Emmanuel Buttigieg and Tiah Mai Ayton attempt to take the next step in their careers.
Live Scorecard –George Liddard vs. Dario Morello
Live Results
Times are local BST
19:45
Tiah Mai Ayton won the vacant Commonwealth featherweight title in a solid display against Ellie Hellewell. The Hellewell corner called off the fight after six completed rounds as Ayton made it seven straight wins as a pro and pushed towards world honors.
18:52
Connor Mitchell gets four useful rounds under his belt with a 39-37 points victory over Caine Singh.
Singh made him work for it, but the all-action Mitchell did enough to get his hand raised.
18:16
Louie Ward moved to 3-0 with a dominant performance, stopping Jon Martinez in the third round.
Ward was in control throughout before forcing the finish to secure another impressive victory.
17:42
Ioan Croft dropped Tomas Reynoso early on before seeing out a sixth round victory. The referee waved the fight off with just over a minute left of the round.
17:10
Harley Burrows opened the show with a first round stoppage of Carlos Ronner. Burrows pinned Ronner on the ropes and waded in until the referee halted the contest.
TV Coverage and Remaining Bouts
United Kingdom: DAZN
- George Liddard vs. Dario Morello – Vacant European Middleweight Title (12)
- Jimmy Sains vs. Tom Cowling – Vacant Commonwealth Middleweight Title (12)
- Emmanuel Buttigieg vs. P A Gordon – Vacant English Middleweight Title (10)
Preview
Liddard enters his first European title fight with a perfect 14-0 record as the 24-year-old attempts to continue his rapid rise through the middleweight division.
Morello brings considerably more experience at 26-1 and arrives in London undefeated since 2019.
The event takes place at the Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promoting the card.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
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