Richardson Hitchins says he’d like to make his first defense of his IBF light welterweight title against Devin Haney next. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) feels that a fight between him and Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) would do big numbers on PPV due to the people involved and his father, Bill Haney, talking a lot of mess to get boxing fans interested.
Last Saturday, Hitchins dethroned IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro (25-1, 15 KOs), beating him by a 12-round split decision on December 7th at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Callout
Hitchins says that Haney told him in the past that if he got his hands on a world title, he’d fight him. Now that he has a belt, he wants Haney to back up what he said. However, Devin’s dad, Bill, revealed today that he’s going to take a year off and won’t be back in action for a while. He says Devin wants to rest.
It’s already been seven months since his 12-round majority decision loss to Ryan Garcia on April 20th, and it’s believed that he’s going to sit out and wait until his one suspension is up before fighting him. Haney isn’t taking chances by staying busy and potentially getting beaten. That would ruin things for him in terms of the rematch with Garcia.
Hitchins is going to have to look in another direction because Haney is NOT going to fight him. If he can get the washed George Kambosos, that wouldn’t be a bad fight. The little ‘Emperor” has failed to do anything since his upset win over Teofimo Lopez in 2021 and is seen as a one-hit-wonder. However, he can still talk up his fights, and his Aussie fans still follow him.
“I like Devin Haney. I think that would be a huge PPV fight. I think the numbers would be good because there would be so many people involved,” said Richardson Hitchins to Fighthype about wanting to fight Devin Haney next.
“I talk a lot of s***, and Devin’s father [Bill Haney] talks a lot of s***. I feel like I’m the better fighter. Before I was a champion, Devin said to me, ‘Get a belt first, and then we can fight.’ Well, now I got a belt. Why not fight a world champion? If he’s going to stay at 140, why not fight me?
“Let’s make a big fight happen. On a business note, though. That fight would make more sense in another fight or two, but I’m down to do it now. I want it to be as big as it possibly can be. I’m a world champion already, and he’s tasted success at the highest level when it comes to the sport.
“So now that I’m a world champion, I have something to bring to the table building a fight. If not that, a unification with [WBA light welterweight champion Jose] Rayo [Valenzuela], Teofimo, or any of the other champions would be a big fight.
“George Kambosos is a big name and someone who talks s***. We’re going to sell the fight. If they can make it happen, it is what it is,” said Hitchins.
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