IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins has been confirmed to have left Matchroom and entered free agency, allowing him free leave to join any promotion for single- or multi-fight deals. With WBO champ Teofimo Lopez angled as an opponent, Hitchins appears set to join with Top Rank on a one-fight basis as the two could potentially meet for a unification fight this year.
Richardson Hitchins’ (20-0, 8 KO’s) departure from Matchroom is quite a surprise given the UK-based promotion has turned Hitchins into a genuine star. Crossing over from Mayweather Promotions in 2022, the American fighter became a world champion under the Matchroom banner last year after defeating IBF super lightweight (140 lbs) champion Liam Paro (26-1, 16 KO’s) to become the new champion in the division.
Aware of Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn’s disappointment in Hitchins announcing his departure from Matchroom after stopping George Kambosos Jr. in his first title defense, Hitchins went on to confirm his split from the promotion that he maintained did not exclude a potential return:
“I love Eddie Hearn,” Hitchins told The Ring. “Like I said, Matchroom has been fair to me. They presented me opportunities, and it was my job to fulfill those opportunities, and that’s what I did.
“At the end of the day, I got to do what’s best for me as a fighter. So, as far as him giving me the opportunity, I got to forever be grateful for that, and I’ll be looking forward to working with him in the future.
“I’m gonna be in the sport for a long time so I don’t want to burn any bridges, mess up any relationships that I did have. But, at the end of the day, it’s still about putting myself in the best position possible.“
Following his callout of Devin Haney (32-0, 15 KO’s) in his post-fight interview following his fight with Kambosos (22-4, 10 KO’s), Hitchins is now looking to unify his IBF 140-pound title with WBO champion Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KO’s) after Haney was recently confirmed to be set to face WBO welterweight (147 lbs) champion Brian Norman Jr (28-0, 22 KO’s).
“Devin Haney got his [name] attached now with Brian Norman,” Hitchins said. “So, I think that right now we’re pointing at Teofimo Lopez.
“I think that’s a fight that makes sense. He claims he’s from New York. I am New York, and I think that makes sense. Two guys, in their prime, young.
“I think that with the Lomachenko fight [Teofimo had] it was a big fight, but it being with no fans around [due to the COVID epidemic], Lomachenko being a smaller dude, I don’t think it would live up to the magnitude of this fight that Teofimo would be in.
“I think that me and him in the ring will be the biggest fight of not just my career, his career too. I don’t see him fight anybody with the pedigree that I bring, the skills that I bring, and the way the fight will be get built up. It’ll be crazy.“
With Teofimo Lopez currently still signed with Top Rank, a one-fight deal with the American promotion could be on the cards for Richardson Hitchins in order for the fight to be made.
Notably, without any promotional backing, Hitchins would be at a steep disadvantage against Lopez though a risk potentially worth taking given Lopez’ name recognition in the sport and the possibility of Hitchins boosting his own exposure through a win ― with the further opportunity to become recognized as a pound-for-pound contender also lingering on the periphery.
The only real setback is whether Hitchins will even be able to commence talks with Top Rank after The Ring owner Turki Alalshikh announced his intentions to block other promotions from engaging with the IBF champion.
