IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins asked today on social media about why “everybody” wants to fight him after Frank Martin called him out. Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) has gotten used to being the one who chases fights with no luck.
Hitchins Becomes the Hunted
The former Matchroom-promoted Hiitchins, 28, has half a dozen fighters at 140 pressing him for a fight, and he’s seemingly not interested in fighting any of them. Hitchins is now the hunted kind, seen as food by the talented fighters at 140 that could end his reign as a champion.
Copy of Shakur — Without the Bite
Fighters view Hitchins as an easy mark, who lacks power, struggled against Gustavo Lemos, and has declined fights against the other 140-lb champions, Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias. In other words, fighters view Hitchins as weak and scary. Richardson is seen as a copy of Shakur Stevenson, but not a good one.
The Six Sharks at 140
- Gary Antuanne Russell
- Subriel Matias
- Keyshawn Davis
- Ernesto Mercado
- Frank Martin
- Jamaine Ortiz
Hitchins doesn’t have a fight scheduled, still, after knocking out former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round on June 14, 2025. He parted ways with promoter Eddie Hearn after that fight.
No Turki Call, No Fight in Sight
At the time, it looked like he thought he was going to be scooped up by Turki Alalshikh for a big-money fight the way Edgar Berlanga was after he announced his contract with Hearn had expired on March 15, 2025, but that hasn’t happened.
Now, Hitchins has no fights scheduled, and the guys he’s called out, Teofimo Lopez, Brian Norman Jr., and Devin Haney, haven’t agreed to fight him yet.
Norman Sr. said his son would willingly fight Hitchins next, but it’s unclear if that’s the case. If WBO welterweight champion Norman Jr. knocks out Haney on November 22nd, he’s likely going to be offered a big fight by Turki Alalshikh against Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez, or a rematch with Haney.
The situation looks bleak for Hitchins right now. He may need to consider agreeing to face one of the six sharks that have been calling him out at 140, or he’s going to be sitting for a long time.
You Can’t Fake It Forever
If Hitchins is as good as he’s been saying he is, he shouldn’t have any problems beating Antuanne Russell, Matias, and Keyshawn Davis. Of course, if he’s not, he’ll lose his IBF belt and be sent back to the contender rankings where Eddie Hearn found him. You can’t fake it forever.
Martin Joins the Feeding Frenzy
Why do every body wanna fight me 😂 https://t.co/kjFo6qohXV
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) November 12, 2025
Frank Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) already has a fight scheduled against Rances Barthelemy on December 6, 2025, on the Isaac ‘Pitbull Cruz vs. Lamont Roach card in San Antonio, Texas. So, if Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) is already calling Hitchins out, it means he’s planning ahead, assuming he’s going to beat Roach.