Jack Catterall vs. Richardson HItchins - IBF Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

Junior Welterweight Title Eliminator Ordered By IBF

A path has been established to assign the next mandatory challengers to one of the most feared titlists in the sport.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the IBF has ordered a Jack Catterall-Richardson Hitchins junior welterweight final elimination bout. Both boxers positively responded to a November 29 invitation letter sent by the sanctioning body, with the fight formally ordered on Monday.

Both boxers are promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

England’s Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) is ranked number-two by the IBF, while Brooklyn’s Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) is ranked number-four. In between the two is former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs), who will soon exit the rankings and the division to campaign at welterweight.

Interestingly, both Catterall and Hitchins declined an invitation to enter the prior mandatory process which led to Uzbekistan’s Ergashev earning the designation by default.

Catterall has won twice in 2023 after having previously endured an unwelcome 15-month ring absence. The delay was due in large part to his oft-postponed and ultimately canceled rematch versus Taylor, against whom Catterall suffered a controversial split decision defeat last February 26 in Glasgow.

The most recent win for the 30-year-old Chorley-bred southpaw came in a twelve-round decision over former three-division titlist Jorge Linares. Their October 21 DAZN main event in Liverpool saw Catterall win by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111, and which marked the final fight in the career of Linares who announced his retirement.

Hitchins has also won twice this year. The 2016 Olympian for Haiti—representing his parents’ roots—soundly outpointed John Bauza in their February 4 battle of unbeaten prospects in New York City. Hitchins earned main event status for his most recent victory, a twelve-round unanimous decision over former title challenger Jose Zepeda on September 24 in Orlando, Florida.

The winner of the fight will become the number-one contender to IBF junior welterweight titlist Subriel Matias (20-1, 20 KOs). The frightening puncher honored his most recent mandatory with a fifth-round stoppage of Shohjahon Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) on November 29 in Las Vegas. He is now in the voluntary stage of his title reign as a result will have until June 29 to make an optional defense before he will have to revisit the mandatory route.

[jameswilson]

This will be on the undercard of Canelo v Zach Parker at Pride Park.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jack Catterall-Richardson Hitchins IBF Title Eliminator Heads To Jan. 2 Purse Bid

The ordered Jack Catterall-Richardson Hitchins title eliminator will head to a purse bid.

Boxing Scene has confirmed the IBF-assigned negotiation period ended without a deal in place for the mandated junior welterweight bout. The New Jersey-headquartered sanctioning body has scheduled a January 2 hearing to determine promotional rights for a fight to establish the mandatory contender to IBF 140-pound titlist Subriel Matias (20-1, 20KOs).

Representatives for Catterall and Hitchins both accepted a November 29 invitation from the IBF to enter talks which began on December 5. They were given 15 days to come to terms but could not reach that point in time, nor was an extension yet requested as this goes to publication.

A deal can still be struck at any point up to and including the day of the purse bid hearing. Both boxers are promoted by Matchroom Boxing, who initially informed the IBF of two-way interest to move forward with the fight and will likely land the fight whether through bid or late-hour agreement.

England’s Catterall (28-1, 13KOs) is ranked number-two by the IBF, while Brooklyn’s Hitchins (17-0, 7KOs) is ranked number-four. In between the two is former undisputed champion Josh Taylor (19-1, 13KOs), who will soon exit the rankings and the division to campaign at welterweight.

Catterall has won twice in 2023 after having previously endured an unwelcome 15-month ring absence. The delay was due in large part to his oft-postponed and ultimately canceled rematch versus Taylor, against whom Catterall suffered a controversial split decision defeat last February 26 in Glasgow.

The most recent win for the 30-year-old Chorley-bred southpaw came in a twelve-round decision over former three-division titlist Jorge Linares. Their October 21 DAZN main event in Liverpool saw Catterall win by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111, and Linares subsequently announced his retirement.

Hitchins has also won twice this year. The 2016 Olympian for Haiti—representing his parents’ roots—soundly outpointed John Bauza in their February 4 battle of unbeaten prospects in New York City. Hitchins outclassed former title challenger Jose Zepeda over twelve rounds in their September 24 DAZN main event from Orlando, Florida.

The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger to Puerto Rico’s Matias, who in the meantime will be afforded a voluntary title defense.

The frightening puncher forced two unbeaten opponents to quit after five rounds in separate title fights this year. Matias broke down Argentina’s Jeremias Ponce and forced a stoppage after the fifth round of their February 25 vacant title fight in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He snatched the “0” from Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev in similar fashion in a November 25 mandatory title defense in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Per IBF Rule 9C, Catterall and Hitchins are now required to honor the ordered title eliminator to avoid disciplinary action. Any fighter who abandons the purse bid process or does not honor the outcome will receive a demotion in the rankings plus a six-month probation period where they cannot participate in an IBF-sanctioned fight.

[TheLeprechaun]

They might as well hold it in cateralls back garden because his style is hideous to watch.

[SeanBrennan]

They might as well hold it in cateralls back garden because his style is hideous to watch.

the neighbours would still shut the curtains and pop Strictly on.

[margaret thatcher]

both good boxers but this is an awful style match up. hitchins prob wins

[cpx2]

Doubt this happens, Hitchins has said he won't fight Matias under the IBF hydration rules.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse Bid Postponed Until January 11 For Ordered IBF Title Eliminator

Jack Catterall and Richardson Hitchins now have another week to reach a deal for their ordered title eliminator.

Boxing Scene has confirmed the IBF granted a request to reschedule a purse bid hearing to January 11. The session was due to take place Tuesday but both parties asked for additional time to come to terms or at least find common ground surrounding their junior welterweight elimination contest.

Both boxers are promoted by Matchroom Boxing, who informed the IBF last November of two-way interest to pursue the fight. Public comments made by both, however, suggest anything other than progress made in that regard.

England’s Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) has repeatedly called for a rematch versus Scotland’s Josh Taylor (19-1, 13 KOs), the former undisputed junior welterweight champion. Matchroom has reportedly made three separate offers for the fight, which seems to be a greater priority than to reach an agreement with Brooklyn’s Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs).

Taylor defeated Catterall in a questionable split decision in their February 2022 meeting with all four major titles at stake.

It was the last time Taylor successfully defended any of his junior welterweight titles. He was subsequently forced to relinquish the WBA, WBC and IBF belts to instead proceed with a planned rematch versus Catterall. The two were forced to postpone those plans several times and outright cancel, as Taylor instead fought Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs), who soundly outboxed the Scottish southpaw last June to win the WBO and lineal 140-pound championship.

Catterall ultimately moved on, though at the expense of a 15-month ring absence.

The 30-year-old Chorley-bred southpaw returned to the ring last May on the undercard of the Leigh Wood-Mauricio Lara rematch. His most recent outing came in a twelve-round decision over former three-division titlist Jorge Linares. Their October 21 DAZN main event in Liverpool saw Catterall win by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111, and Linares subsequently announced his retirement.

Hitchins also won twice in his 2023 campaign. The 2016 Olympian for Haiti—representing his parents’ roots—soundly outpointed John Bauza in their February 4 battle of unbeaten prospects in New York City. Hitchins outclassed former title challenger Jose Zepeda over twelve rounds in their September 24 DAZN main event from Orlando, Florida.

While never specifying Catterall, Hitchins hinted at a potential March return. It could come in an IBF-sanctioned title eliminator, though an opponent has yet to be finalized while the process continues for a potential meeting versus Catterall.

Should the fight move forward, the winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger to Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias (19-1, 19 KOs), who in the meantime will be afforded a voluntary title defense.

Per IBF Rule 9C, Catterall and Hitchins are now required to honor the ordered title eliminator to avoid disciplinary action handed down by the sanctioning body. Any fighter who abandons the purse bid process or does not honor the outcome will receive a demotion in the rankings plus a six-month probation period where they cannot participate in an IBF-sanctioned fight.

[SeanBrennan]

if it does not happen, Jack has no luck. Boring fighter but deserves a title fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF Purse Bid Once Again Postponed, Now Jan. 18

Another week, another delay.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the Jack Catterall-Richardson Hitchins IBF purse bid was postponed by another week to January 18. The session was scheduled for Thursday, already a nine-day extension from the original January 2 date for their ordered junior welterweight title eliminator.

It was pushed back a second time upon request from Matchroom Boxing, the promoter of record for both boxers.

Extensions are normally granted when both parties believe the additional time can be used to come to terms.

That does not seem to be the case here. If anything, it has become more apparent that both are destined for separate opportunities. Brooklyn’s Hitchins (17-0, 7 KOs) is prepared to face Catterall or anyone else on an already reserved DAZN date in March.

England’s Catterall (28-1, 13 KOs) has, however, repeatedly called for a rematch versus Scotland’s Josh Taylor (19-1, 13KOs), the former undisputed junior welterweight champion. Matchroom has reportedly made three separate offers for the fight, which seems to be a greater priority than to reach an agreement with Hitchins.

Taylor defeated Catterall in a questionable split decision in their February 2022 meeting with all four major titles at stake.

It was the last time Taylor successfully defended any of his junior welterweight titles. He was subsequently forced to relinquish the WBA, WBC and IBF belts to instead proceed with a planned rematch versus Catterall. The two were forced to postpone those plans several times and outright cancel, as Taylor instead fought Teofimo Lopez (19-1, 13KOs), who soundly outboxed the Scottish southpaw last June to win the WBO and lineal 140-pound championship.

Catterall ultimately moved on, though at the expense of a 15-month ring absence. The 30-year-old southpaw has since won twice, including a twelve-round decision over former three-division titlist Jorge Linares on October 21 in Liverpool.

Hitchins also won twice in his 2023 campaign. The 2016 Olympian for Haiti—representing his parents’ roots—soundly outpointed John Bauza in their February 4 battle of unbeaten prospects in New York City. Hitchins outclassed former title challenger Jose Zepeda over twelve rounds in their September 24 DAZN main event from Orlando, Florida.

Should the fight move forward, the winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger to Puerto Rico’s Subriel Matias (19-1, 19 KOs), who in the meantime will be afforded a voluntary title defense.

Per IBF Rule 9C, Catterall and Hitchins are now required to honor the ordered title eliminator to avoid disciplinary action handed down by the sanctioning body. Any fighter who abandons the purse bid process or does not honor the outcome will receive a demotion in the rankings plus a six-month probation period where they cannot participate in an IBF-sanctioned fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Just go to bloody purse bids!

Aren't they both with Matchroom anyway?