Connect with us

Boxing

Skip Matias and Russell in favor of Haney-Norman

Published

9 months ago

on

Image: Hitchins’ Shortcut to Glory: No Matias, No Russell — Just Haney or Norman Jr. for the Belt

Richardson Hitchins reiterated today that he is willing to move up to 147 pounds to fight the winner of the November 22 fight between WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. and Devin Haney.

The simplest possible route

Brooklyn-based Hitchins (20-0, 8 KO) wants a title shot in his first fight at 147, rather than winning it by fighting top contenders waiting for the WBO rankings. It’s the other way around attempts to win the title, but it may not work out given that Hitchins is not popular with casual fans. It’s a formula. Defeat a supple opponent, then call upon warriors who are above your pay grade and have earned their way.

No Matias and no Russell

Richardson shows no desire to fight top contenders or champions at 140 to gain popularity. Instead of Richardson fighting top 140-pounders like Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias, he’s content to fight George Kambosos Jr.

I can promise it will be a solid opponent, but me I can’t promise you I won’t make it look like a cupcake. Richardson Hitchins said Ring Magazine about his next fight. “After the win over Kambosos, I called up players like Devin Haney. I called up Teofimo Lopez.”

The only two notable contenders in the top 15 of the IBF rankings are Jamaine Ortiz and Ernesto Mercado. It is highly unlikely that Hitchins will fight either of these two as they would have an excellent chance of making him a cupcake.

Hitchins’ manager Keith Connolly is unlikely to choose Jamaine or Tito Mercado as his next opponent, as they could take away his bargaining chip by dethroning him as the IBF 140-pound champion. We saw how much trouble Hitchins had against Gustavo Lemos on April 6, 2024, winning a questionable 12-round unanimous decision.

Many boxing fans believed that Lemos deserved to win this fight. To say Hitchins has been exposed is an understatement. The judges gave him the decision on scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113. He didn’t look like a winner. The fight showed that Hitchins was susceptible to pressure. He’s so ugly Haney and Shakur style. The kryptonite of this style is pure pressure.

Title Ambition

“I’m willing to move up to 147 pounds and challenge some of the champions there,” Hitchins said. “At 140, do some unifications. It’s about getting the biggest fights for me. Now I’m the champion. I’m in great shape. It’s time for me to prove to the world who Richardson Hitchins is.”

If Hitchins wants to fight top fighters at 140 pounds, he should start doing so because top belt holders have repeatedly called him out, refusing to agree to fight any of them. These warriors called upon Hitchins:

  • Gary Antuanne Russell
  • Subriel Matias
  • Albert Puello
  • Keyshawn Davis
  • Ernesto Mercado

“For my first fight, I’m willing to go down to 147 pounds and challenge the winner Devin Haney and Brian Norman for the WBO world championship. After the great win over Kambosos, I felt it was only fair to say I was a free agent and see what the best offers were for me,” Hitchins said.

What Hitchins should do if he wants to fight for the world welterweight title is to first relinquish his IBF 140-pound title. Then level up and fight your way through these challengers for a chance at the title:

  • Shakhram Giasov
  • Karen Chukhadjian
  • Eimantas Stanionis
  • Raul Curiel

A fan base that doesn’t exist

Earlier this week, Teofimo Lopez rejected the idea of ​​fighting Hitchins, claiming that television networks and promoters were not willing to pay him the money he was asking for due to a lack of fans. Lopez says to 10-8 Podcast that Hitchins wants “X amount of money that the promoters at the networks are not willing to give him yet because he needs to build a fan base around himself.”

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/787807

Last update: 10/30/2025

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

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

Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

on

July 25, 2026

By

"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

on

July 25, 2026

By

"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

1 day ago

on

July 25, 2026

By

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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