Advanced negotiations underway between Davis, Hitchins for matchup at 147
Richardson Hitchins and Keyshawn Davis are in advanced talks for a welterweight fight later this year, sources tell The Ring.
If the deal is finalized, it would pit two young, undefeated American boxers against one another in a high-stakes bout.
Hitchins (21-0, 8 KOs) made his 147-pound debut in July in his native New York with a shutout decision over Ricardo Salas. Hitchins was scheduled to defend his IBF junior welterweight title vs. Oscar Duarte in February, but he fell ill after making weight for the IBF’s second weigh-in the morning of the fight.
The 28-year-old subsequently vacated his title. Hitchins isn’t ranked by The Ring at welterweight after his lone fight at 147.
Davis, an Olympic silver medalist, faced public backlash after he declined a mandatory title shot at Devin Haney for a career-high $3 million purse this fall. Davis could rebound with a tough assignment here against Hitchins.
Davis, 27, is a former lightweight titleholder. He made his 140-pound debut in January with a 12th-round TKO of Jamaine Ortiz. Davis (15-0, 10 KOs) followed up with a decision victory over Nahir Albright in a May rematch.
Davis would move up another weight class for the fight with Hitchins.
Richardson Hitchins and Keyshawn Davis are in advanced talks for a welterweight fight later this year, sources tell The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger. 