Hitchins made the comments while discussing his previous title-winning performance, where he said the IBF’s strict rehydration limit prevented him from recovering properly after the weigh-in.
“I couldn’t rehydrate the way I normally do,” Hitchins said to Shawn Porter’s YouTube channel. “That played a big part in how I felt in the ring.”
The IBF enforces a second-day weigh-in rule that limits how much weight a fighter can regain after officially making the division limit. Fighters who exceed that limit risk losing their title eligibility. Hitchins suggested that requirement affected his stamina and physical output.
Condition now under scrutiny
Hitchins enters his fight with Duarte without those same restrictions, but his comments have created a new point of scrutiny. Hitchins won’t have that restriction this time, and that removes the explanation if he slows down. Duarte keeps coming, throws often, and forces opponents to work every round. If Hitchins fades again, it won’t be blamed on the scale.
Hitchins’ technical control has allowed him to dictate pace in previous fights, but his own admission has introduced questions about how his body responds under full competitive conditions.
Hitchins has maintained an unbeaten professional record while steadily advancing toward title contention. His victory over Gustavo Lemos established him as a legitimate champion, but his explanation afterward changed how that performance can be interpreted.
“I was restricted,” Hitchins said. “I wasn’t able to fully be myself.”
The fight with Duarte now becomes more than a routine defense or appearance. It becomes a test of whether Hitchins can perform at his expected level without physical limitations influencing the outcome. His own explanation has ensured that his condition, not just his opponent, will be part of the evaluation when he returns to the ring.
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