Saturday’s lineup in Las Vegas is officially one fight lighter.
BoxingScene has confirmed that Richardson Hitchins was forced to withdraw on short notice from his planned IBF 140lbs title defense versus Oscar Duarte. The two were due to meet in the co-feature of Saturday’s DAZN pay-per-view event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Hitchins fell ill shortly after the same-day rehydration weight check and was unable to fully recover. No specific cause was given, though BoxingScene has learned that food poisoning served as the culprit. Regardless, the 11th-hour timing left event handlers without the chance to explore a contingency plan.
The development was first reported by Ring Magazine, whose promotional team – funded by owner and Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh – is presenting the PPV card. The rest of the card remains intact, including the main event between WBC 147lbs titlist Mario Barrios, 29-2-2 (18 KOs), and Ryan Garcia, 24-2 (20 KOs).
Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), and Duarte, 30-2-1 (23 KOs), both came in right at the 140lbs divisional limit during Friday’s official pre-fight weigh-in. Their rehydration weights were nearly identical on Saturday; Hitchins came in at 149.4lbs, while Duarte was slightly heavier at 149.6lbs.
Per IBF rules, participants are required to weigh no heavier than 10lbs above the contracted limit during the same-day weight-check. Both were just inside the allowable 150lbs mark.
It’s a moot point, however, because Hitchins is no longer physically able to move forward with the fight.
Hitchins was due to make the second defense of the title he claimed in a December 2024 points win over then-unbeaten Liam Paro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The most recent bout for Hitchins, an unbeaten Brooklyn native, was perhaps his finest hour as a pro. He tore through former lineal unified 135lbs champion George Kambosos Jnr en route to an eighth-round stoppage last June 14 at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
Duarte was due to enter his first major title fight. Unfortunately for the veteran slugger, Saturday’s contest was a voluntary defense, with mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado already waiting in the wings.
Hitchins secured the bout with Duarte in the nick of time, just before the IBF was prepared to order his mandatory title fight. He will likely have to file an exception if he wishes to pursue any other opportunity once he is back at full health.
That said, a move to welterweight could very well be in his immediate future.
Hitchins spoke as recently as this week about his struggles with the IBF rehydration clause, including for his questionable win over Gustavo Lemos in their April 2024 title eliminator.
However, Saturday's incident was not a repeat of that, per his team.
"He made the second day weigh in this morning at 8 AM," Keith Connolly, Hitchins' manager, told BoxingScene's Lance Pugmire via text. "After that he ate breakfast and started throwing up within the next hour. He’s vomited several times throughout the day."
Should Hitchins opt to abandon his IBF 140lbs title reign, Duarte, the current No. 3 contender, would at least be in position to challenge Delgado for the vacant belt. Delgado is rated No. 1, with “not rated” occupying the No. 2 slot – a customary placeholder for the IBF in the absence of a boxer winning a title eliminator for that position.
Hitchins-Duarte was one of three title fights planned for Saturday, as well as the top of a trio of 140lbs contests on the card. WBA 140lbs titleholder Gary Antuanne Russell will face mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka, who overcame long-delayed visa issues to fly in from Japan mid-week and arrive for his first career title fight.
In non-title action, Frank Martin and Nahir Albright collide in a 10-round bout that is also part of the PPV lineup.
