Bill Haney says Hitchins must prove himself at 147 pounds before entering Devin Haney discussions
Bill Haney says Richardson Hitchins is not currently a priority opponent for Devin Haney at welterweight. Haney questioned whether Hitchins is fully committed to moving up to 147 pounds before discussing a possible fight.
“Richardson Bitchinson, he didn’t make the top 10, but he did make the honorable mention, and you just mentioned him,” Bill Haney said on Million Dollaz Worth of Game.
“That’s what I think about him.”
The comments came after Devin Haney’s recent move to welterweight, where he now holds the WBO title. Several names have already been connected to him, including Jaron Ennis, Brian Norman Jr., and Teofimo Lopez, while Hitchins has tried to work his way into the conversation after leaving the 140-pound division.
Bill questioned whether Hitchins is fully committed to the move before even discussing a possible fight.
“What I’m saying is he’s a very determined fighter, and as he continues to do what he should do. First, he has to move up to 147 pounds and not just be talking about it,” said Bill.
“Because a lot of these guys be talking and not even moved up to the weight class. You know that, right?”
Hitchins recently lost his IBF 140-pound title and has continued mentioning the top welterweights in interviews and on social media. Bill’s reaction suggested he sees him as a fighter still trying to earn his way into the upper group at 147 rather than someone already standing alongside the division’s main names.
A fight between Devin and Hitchins could become more realistic if Haney signs with Zuffa Boxing. Hitchins is already connected to the company, and Zuffa is expected to operate with a UFC-style structure that keeps many of its fights in-house. If Devin joins that system, the promotion would have an easier path toward matching the two welterweights against each other.
