Richardson Hitchins-Lindolfo Delgado IBF mandatory title fight ordered
Oscar Duarte was not only screwed out of a title fight but will now have to wait in line for his next first opportunity.
Boxing Scene has confirmed that the IBF has called for Richardson Hitchins, its 140lbs titlist, to next defend against mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado. The two sides were contacted on Tuesday and will have 30 days to reach terms and avoid a purse bid hearing.
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs) is managed by Keith Connolly. Delgado, 24-0 (16 KOs) is with Top Rank, with manager Rick Mirigian and trainer Robert Garcia navigating his career behind the scenes and in the gym, respectively.
The development came just three days after Hitchins fell ill at the 11th hour of his eventually canceled clash with Mexico’s Duarte, 30-2-1 (23 KOs). The two were due to meet in the February 21 co-feature to Ryan Garcia’s WBC 147lbs title-winning effort over Mario Barrios at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Hitchins and Duarte both weighed in right at the 140lbs limit on Friday, and complied with the IBF same-day safety check on Saturday morning. IBF-sanctioned bouts require participants to weigh no more than 10lbs above the contracted limit on the day of the fight.
Shortly after the session, Hitchins went to refuel with a team breakfast. It was at that point when he began to feel nauseous and spent the rest of the day what was described by his team as “projectile vomiting.” Too weak and ill to do really anything at all, the obvious call was made to pull him from the fight.
The late fallout left Duarte without a fight, as there was not any time left to secure an emergency opponent.
Hitchins previously secured the fight as a last-ditch effort to avoid having to commit to his mandatory title defense. His team finalized terms just within the period allotted for a voluntary defense, but that time frame has since elapsed.
That meant Delgado was next up in line, to the chagrin of his frustrated countryman.
Delgado, a 2016 Olympian for Mexico, became the mandatory challenger after a disputed split decision victory over Guadalajara’s Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela. Their November 15 battle saw Delgado survive a 12th round knockdown to win 114-113 on two scorecards, overruling a 114-113 card in favor of Gollaz.
The win came seven months after Delgado similarly struggled with the Dominican Republic’s Elvis Rodriguez in a majority win last April 5 in Las Vegas.
Hitchins – who also fought in 2016 Rio, representing his parents’ native Hait - claimed the IBF junior welterweight title in a December 2024 win over Liam Paro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Just one defense has followed thus far, an 8th round stoppage of former lineal and unified 135lbs champion George Kambosos last June 14 at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
Meanwhile, Golden Boy is exploring an emergency contingency plan for Duarte as he waits in line for his owed – but, unfortunately, not mandatory – title fight. There are loose whispers that he could land a slot on the May 2 Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez-David Benavidez undercard in Vegas. Ideally, he’d like to fight sooner; Golden Boy’s only other show on the schedule is March 14 in Anaheim, California.
Duarte has not fought since an August 2 points win over Kenneth Sims Jnr in the latter’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois.
Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
Hitchins clearly has issues with the weight.. Maybe IBF should address this.
Feel bad for Duarte.. misses out.
Feel bad for Duarte.. misses out.
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
IBF Directs Hitchins To Make Mandatory Defense Against Delgado
Oscar Duarte has officially been skipped in the queue.
The Ring has learned that Richardson Hitchins has been ordered to defend his IBF junior welterweight belt against his mandatory challenger, Lindolfo Delgado, next. The two sides were given 30 days from Tuesday to work out an agreement. If that doesn’t happen, a purse bid will be called.
Delgado is ranked No. 1 by the IBF. Duarte is ranked third. The second spot is vacant.
While the news might be music to Delgado’s ears, Duarte must be livid. The 30-year-old contender from Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, was just hours away from fighting Hitchins in the co-main event on “The Ring: High Stakes” show Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
However, after making the 140-pound weight limit Friday and adhering to the IBF’s second-day weigh-in restrictions Saturday, when both fighters had to come in no more than 10 pounds over 140, Hitchins fell ill. Members of Hitchins’ team claimed that the 28-year-old champion began vomiting profusely shortly after breakfast, leading to him pulling out of the fight.
Duarte was apoplectic. From his point of view, Hitchins simply wasn’t man enough to get in the ring with him.
“They let me know he was sick, but they didn’t really specify [what was wrong],” Duarte told DAZN’s Chris Mannix on Saturday night. “Really, what I think is that he got scared of the moment. He was scared and he didn’t have the balls to be here [Saturday night].”
Although Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) has said Hitchins should be forced to either vacate or fight him next, the Brooklyn native won’t be required to do either.
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) was allowed a voluntary title defense, which freed him up for a clash with Duarte, who is more known to the public than Delgado. Despite the abrupt cancelation, the 2016 Olympian is no longer allowed that grace period and must make a mandatory defense against Delgado next.
Mexico’s Delgado, 31, nearly lost his chance at fighting for the IBF title thanks to a shaky performance against Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela on November 15 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) was rocked and dropped in the 12th round, but he ultimately escaped with a split-decision win.
Hitchins has repeatedly complained about the IBF’s second-day weigh-ins. He has also said in recent interviews that his days at 140 pounds are nearly over due to his struggles to make the weight.
When last seen in the ring, Hitchins nevertheless looked spectacular, stopping George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round on June 14 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Duarte, 30, has picked up four consecutive wins since getting stopped in the eighth round by Ryan Garcia in December 2023. He most recently beat Kenneth Sims Jr. (22-3-1, 8 KOs) by majority decision in a WBA elimination match August 2 in Chicago.
Oscar Duarte has officially been skipped in the queue.
The Ring has learned that Richardson Hitchins has been ordered to defend his IBF junior welterweight belt against his mandatory challenger, Lindolfo Delgado, next. The two sides were given 30 days from Tuesday to work out an agreement. If that doesn’t happen, a purse bid will be called.
Delgado is ranked No. 1 by the IBF. Duarte is ranked third. The second spot is vacant.
While the news might be music to Delgado’s ears, Duarte must be livid. The 30-year-old contender from Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, was just hours away from fighting Hitchins in the co-main event on “The Ring: High Stakes” show Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
However, after making the 140-pound weight limit Friday and adhering to the IBF’s second-day weigh-in restrictions Saturday, when both fighters had to come in no more than 10 pounds over 140, Hitchins fell ill. Members of Hitchins’ team claimed that the 28-year-old champion began vomiting profusely shortly after breakfast, leading to him pulling out of the fight.
Duarte was apoplectic. From his point of view, Hitchins simply wasn’t man enough to get in the ring with him.
“They let me know he was sick, but they didn’t really specify [what was wrong],” Duarte told DAZN’s Chris Mannix on Saturday night. “Really, what I think is that he got scared of the moment. He was scared and he didn’t have the balls to be here [Saturday night].”
Although Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) has said Hitchins should be forced to either vacate or fight him next, the Brooklyn native won’t be required to do either.
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) was allowed a voluntary title defense, which freed him up for a clash with Duarte, who is more known to the public than Delgado. Despite the abrupt cancelation, the 2016 Olympian is no longer allowed that grace period and must make a mandatory defense against Delgado next.
Mexico’s Delgado, 31, nearly lost his chance at fighting for the IBF title thanks to a shaky performance against Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela on November 15 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) was rocked and dropped in the 12th round, but he ultimately escaped with a split-decision win.
Hitchins has repeatedly complained about the IBF’s second-day weigh-ins. He has also said in recent interviews that his days at 140 pounds are nearly over due to his struggles to make the weight.
When last seen in the ring, Hitchins nevertheless looked spectacular, stopping George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round on June 14 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Duarte, 30, has picked up four consecutive wins since getting stopped in the eighth round by Ryan Garcia in December 2023. He most recently beat Kenneth Sims Jr. (22-3-1, 8 KOs) by majority decision in a WBA elimination match August 2 in Chicago.
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
IBF SET PURSE BIDS DATE FOR HITCHINS-DELGADO TITLE FIGHT
Richardson Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado have a few more days before the IBF steps in.
After ordering Hitchins, its junior welterweight champion, to take on Delgado, his mandatory challenger in late February, negotiations have failed to progress. As a result, the IBF has scheduled an April 21 purse bid to resolve the matter.
Hitchins was scheduled to face Oscar Duarte on February 21, on the undercard of "The Ring: High Stakes: Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios" at T-Mobile Area in Las Vegas. However, on the day of the fight, Hitchins pulled out; citing illness.
The Brooklynite bounced back, however, by signing what he called a lucrative multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing at the beginning of April.
It’s unclear what Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs), who hasn’t fought since beating George Kambosos via eighth-round stoppage last June, will do now. Although he holds the IBF’s 140-pound title and is The Ring's No. 2-ranked junior welterweight contender.
For Delgado, he just wants his chance on the big stage. The 2016 Olympian may have a spotless record, but Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela nearly derailed him last November. Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) picked himself up off the deck in the 12th and final round to win a close split decision.
Richardson Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado have a few more days before the IBF steps in.
After ordering Hitchins, its junior welterweight champion, to take on Delgado, his mandatory challenger in late February, negotiations have failed to progress. As a result, the IBF has scheduled an April 21 purse bid to resolve the matter.
Hitchins was scheduled to face Oscar Duarte on February 21, on the undercard of "The Ring: High Stakes: Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios" at T-Mobile Area in Las Vegas. However, on the day of the fight, Hitchins pulled out; citing illness.
The Brooklynite bounced back, however, by signing what he called a lucrative multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing at the beginning of April.
It’s unclear what Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs), who hasn’t fought since beating George Kambosos via eighth-round stoppage last June, will do now. Although he holds the IBF’s 140-pound title and is The Ring's No. 2-ranked junior welterweight contender.
For Delgado, he just wants his chance on the big stage. The 2016 Olympian may have a spotless record, but Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela nearly derailed him last November. Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) picked himself up off the deck in the 12th and final round to win a close split decision.
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
Hitchins, who recently joined the Zuffa Boxing stable, was in talks for a mandatory title defense against Lindolfo Delgado. Now, the IBF will be poised to fill the vacancy at 140 with Delgado against the next available contender. That’s currently none other than Oscar Duarte.
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
Richardson Hitchins vacating title, heading to welterweight: report
Richardson Hitchins will no longer compete at 140lbs.
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), is going to vacate his IBF world title and move up to welterweight, according to his manager, Keith Connolly, who spoke to Mike Coppinger of The Ring.
“It was a tough decision for Hitchins, but he’s outgrown the weight class,” Connolly said. “He’s been fighting at 140 since he was 16 as an amateur. Hitchins is an elite fighter, and I truly believe he’ll be even better and stronger at welterweight and that he will be fighting for a world title at 147 in the next 12 months.”
Hitchins is now 28 years old. He turned pro in 2017 and fought a pound or more above the junior welterweight limit for his first few years in the paid ranks. Hitchins consistently made 140 beginning with a November 2022 victory over Yomar Alamo.
In December 2024, Hitchins unseated Liam Paro via split decision for the IBF junior welterweight belt. He made one successful defense, dominating George Kambosos Jnr via seventh-round TKO last June.
Hitchins was supposed to have his second defense this past February against Oscar Duarte as the co-feature of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view. Hitchins made weight at 140lbs at the weigh-in the day before the bout, and he also came in within the IBF’s 150lbs limit for a second weigh-in held the next morning. But Hitchins became ill sometime afterward and pulled out of the bout.
As the Duarte match would have been a voluntary defense, the IBF then ordered Hitchins to take on mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado.
Earlier this month came a potential complication for his title reign: Hitchins signed with Zuffa Boxing. Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia was stripped of his IBF title earlier in March after winning Zuffa Boxing’s newly established belt for the weight division.
Delgado is presently ranked No. 1 by the IBF. The second spot is vacant. Duarte is in the No. 3 slot.
Richardson Hitchins will no longer compete at 140lbs.
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), is going to vacate his IBF world title and move up to welterweight, according to his manager, Keith Connolly, who spoke to Mike Coppinger of The Ring.
“It was a tough decision for Hitchins, but he’s outgrown the weight class,” Connolly said. “He’s been fighting at 140 since he was 16 as an amateur. Hitchins is an elite fighter, and I truly believe he’ll be even better and stronger at welterweight and that he will be fighting for a world title at 147 in the next 12 months.”
Hitchins is now 28 years old. He turned pro in 2017 and fought a pound or more above the junior welterweight limit for his first few years in the paid ranks. Hitchins consistently made 140 beginning with a November 2022 victory over Yomar Alamo.
In December 2024, Hitchins unseated Liam Paro via split decision for the IBF junior welterweight belt. He made one successful defense, dominating George Kambosos Jnr via seventh-round TKO last June.
Hitchins was supposed to have his second defense this past February against Oscar Duarte as the co-feature of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view. Hitchins made weight at 140lbs at the weigh-in the day before the bout, and he also came in within the IBF’s 150lbs limit for a second weigh-in held the next morning. But Hitchins became ill sometime afterward and pulled out of the bout.
As the Duarte match would have been a voluntary defense, the IBF then ordered Hitchins to take on mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado.
Earlier this month came a potential complication for his title reign: Hitchins signed with Zuffa Boxing. Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia was stripped of his IBF title earlier in March after winning Zuffa Boxing’s newly established belt for the weight division.
Delgado is presently ranked No. 1 by the IBF. The second spot is vacant. Duarte is in the No. 3 slot.
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Re: Richardson Hitchins vs. Lindolfo Delgado - IBF Mandatory Ordered
Richardson Hitchins vacating title, heading to welterweight: report
Richardson Hitchins will no longer compete at 140lbs.
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), is going to vacate his IBF world title and move up to welterweight, according to his manager, Keith Connolly, who spoke to Mike Coppinger of The Ring.
“It was a tough decision for Hitchins, but he’s outgrown the weight class,” Connolly said. “He’s been fighting at 140 since he was 16 as an amateur. Hitchins is an elite fighter, and I truly believe he’ll be even better and stronger at welterweight and that he will be fighting for a world title at 147 in the next 12 months.”
Hitchins is now 28 years old. He turned pro in 2017 and fought a pound or more above the junior welterweight limit for his first few years in the paid ranks. Hitchins consistently made 140 beginning with a November 2022 victory over Yomar Alamo.
In December 2024, Hitchins unseated Liam Paro via split decision for the IBF junior welterweight belt. He made one successful defense, dominating George Kambosos Jnr via seventh-round TKO last June.
Hitchins was supposed to have his second defense this past February against Oscar Duarte as the co-feature of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view. Hitchins made weight at 140lbs at the weigh-in the day before the bout, and he also came in within the IBF’s 150lbs limit for a second weigh-in held the next morning. But Hitchins became ill sometime afterward and pulled out of the bout.
As the Duarte match would have been a voluntary defense, the IBF then ordered Hitchins to take on mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado.
Earlier this month came a potential complication for his title reign: Hitchins signed with Zuffa Boxing. Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia was stripped of his IBF title earlier in March after winning Zuffa Boxing’s newly established belt for the weight division.
Delgado is presently ranked No. 1 by the IBF. The second spot is vacant. Duarte is in the No. 3 slot.
Richardson Hitchins will no longer compete at 140lbs.
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), is going to vacate his IBF world title and move up to welterweight, according to his manager, Keith Connolly, who spoke to Mike Coppinger of The Ring.
“It was a tough decision for Hitchins, but he’s outgrown the weight class,” Connolly said. “He’s been fighting at 140 since he was 16 as an amateur. Hitchins is an elite fighter, and I truly believe he’ll be even better and stronger at welterweight and that he will be fighting for a world title at 147 in the next 12 months.”
Hitchins is now 28 years old. He turned pro in 2017 and fought a pound or more above the junior welterweight limit for his first few years in the paid ranks. Hitchins consistently made 140 beginning with a November 2022 victory over Yomar Alamo.
In December 2024, Hitchins unseated Liam Paro via split decision for the IBF junior welterweight belt. He made one successful defense, dominating George Kambosos Jnr via seventh-round TKO last June.
Hitchins was supposed to have his second defense this past February against Oscar Duarte as the co-feature of the Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia pay-per-view. Hitchins made weight at 140lbs at the weigh-in the day before the bout, and he also came in within the IBF’s 150lbs limit for a second weigh-in held the next morning. But Hitchins became ill sometime afterward and pulled out of the bout.
As the Duarte match would have been a voluntary defense, the IBF then ordered Hitchins to take on mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado.
Earlier this month came a potential complication for his title reign: Hitchins signed with Zuffa Boxing. Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia was stripped of his IBF title earlier in March after winning Zuffa Boxing’s newly established belt for the weight division.
Delgado is presently ranked No. 1 by the IBF. The second spot is vacant. Duarte is in the No. 3 slot.