Hitchins Illness Cancels IBF Title Defense Against Duarte

The highly anticipated IBF junior welterweight title defense by Richardson Hitchins against Oscar Duarte has been canceled due to Hitchins’ illness. The announcement was made by The Ring on Saturday, just before the event scheduled at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Overview of the Fight Card

This fight was a significant part of “The Ring: High Stakes” event, serving as the co-main event of Mario Barrios’ WBC welterweight title defense against Ryan Garcia. Fans were eager to see Hitchins defend his title.

Details on Hitchins’ Condition

• Richardson Hitchins, a fighter from Brooklyn, holds a record of 20-0 with 8 KOs.
• He reportedly fell ill shortly after weighing in. Symptoms included vomiting.
• This was to be Hitchins’ second title defense, following his victory over Liam Paro in 2024.

Rehydration Clause Controversy

The IBF has a rehydration clause that mandates fighters weigh no more than 10 pounds above their class limit. Hitchins had previously discussed how this clause affected his performance in an April 2024 match against Gustavo Lemos, which he won narrowly. He expressed concerns about feeling lethargic later in that fight.

Impact on the Event

With Hitchins unable to compete, fans will miss the chance to witness the showdown with Duarte, who has a record of 30-2-1 with 23 KOs. Both fighters had engaged in considerable pre-fight trash talk, building anticipation for their matchup.

Changes to the Fight Card

Now, Gary Antuanne Russell’s WBA junior welterweight title defense against Andy Hiraoka will take the spotlight as the evening’s co-main event. There is currently no information on whether Hitchins’ match with Duarte will be rescheduled or if Hitchins will consider moving up in weight.