Richardson Hitchins says he wants Devin Haney next to defend his IBF light welterweight title which he won last Saturday against champion Liam Paro. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) says Haney said he will fight him if he holds the belt.
(Source: Melina Pizano/Game Room)
Another obstacle that could prevent Haney from fighting Hitchins is the IBF’s 10-lb rehydration limit. He would have to keep his weight at no more than 150 overnight after the second weigh-in the morning of the fight.
If Devin needs to rehydrate at 165, the IBF’s rehydration clause will prevent him. For that reason, he will refuse to fight Hitchins.
Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) does not have a fight lined up after losing to Ryan Garcia earlier this year on April 20th. He has been inactive for 7 1/2 months since then.
Will Haney respond?
“Any champion who wants to fight. Haney said if I get the belt he will fight me. Let’s do that,” said Richardson Hitchins to the media following his victory over IBF light welterweight champion Liam Paro last Saturday.
“I am ready for any top names. I want a big fight in boxing. Time to protect my legacy. Protect my family, and fight the greatest battles.”
Hitchins trained IBF light welterweight champion Paro (25-1, 15 KOs), defeating him by a 12-round decision at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The scores were 116-112, 116-112 for Hitchins, and 117-111 for Paro.
Paro’s fans feel that he made a mistake by agreeing to fight Hitchins in a neutral venue instead of insisting as a champion that the fight be fought in his home country of Australia in order to benefit from fans and scoring goals in this tournament.
It may not have made a difference because Paro was so far from his class that it wouldn’t have mattered if the judges were from Australia.
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