Stephen Edwards Says Duarte Deserves Full Purse After Hitchins Withdrawal

Stephen Edwards says Oscar Duarte was left exposed when IBF title fight collapsed on weigh-in night

Richardson Hitchins made weight. Oscar Duarte made weight. Hours later, the IBF junior welterweight title fight was off.

Hitchins withdrew citing food poisoning after both fighters stepped on the scale. Duarte had finished camp, cleared medicals, and was ready to challenge for a world title. By the next news cycle, the IBF ordered Hitchins to defend against mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado. Duarte was out of the picture.

Stephen Edwards did not hide his view when speaking to MillCity Boxing.

“He deserves his whole purse,” Edwards said. “He made the weight. He did what he was supposed to do.”

That is the core of it. Duarte went through camp, paid sparring partners, covered trainers, and cut the weight. In this sport, those costs hit long before a fighter hears the opening bell.

“Maybe you pay some people weekly. Maybe you pay some people monthly. Maybe you pay for a lot of sparring,” Edwards said. “Your team, they work their ass off… and then they don’t fight. That’s horrible.”

Edwards stopped short of accusing Hitchins of wrongdoing. Illness happens. Fighters pull out with injuries. Still, a same-day withdrawal in a title fight raises eyebrows inside the gym culture of the sport.

“When that happens, your reputation changes,” Edwards said. “Hopefully, it’s not something that sticks with him.”

IBF Order Pushes Duarte Out of Immediate Title Route

The sanctioning fallout was swift. The IBF moved to its next mandatory, installing Lindolfo Delgado as the challenger. Once a mandatory is ordered, the line moves forward. There is no reserved place for the fighter who was ready but never got the chance to throw a punch.

Under IBF rules, once the mandatory is ordered, the line advances. The challenger who wrapped his hands and waited is no longer protected.

That is where Edwards sees a structural problem.

“That’s why I think boxing needs a union for those exact circumstances,” he said.

Under current bout agreements, full purse protection is rarely automatic if a fight collapses before the first round. Much depends on promoter discretion and private negotiation. A challenger can do everything required and still walk away without the payday or the ranking position he trained for.

Duarte fulfilled his side. The belt moved on without him. In this structure, making weight and fulfilling your contract does not secure either the purse or the position.