According to Hearn, past issues factored into that decision. DAZN selected other fighters for the card, including Keyshawn Davis, and Hitchins was left out of the lineup. With that door closed for now, Hearn has pointed to Smith as an alternative.
Smith is now the WBC junior welterweight champion following his fifth round stoppage of Subriel Matias at Barclays Center. The result was decisive, but the performance raised questions. Smith mixed in more exchanges than expected, yet still relied heavily on clinching and disruption to keep Matias from building sustained momentum, an approach similar to how Liam Paro handled Matias in 2024.
That approach would be more difficult against Hitchins.
Hitchins fights at range and prioritizes distance control. He is not easy to tie up and does not linger in exchanges. If Smith cannot slow him inside, he would likely be pushed into a fight dictated by jabs and short scoring shots from the outside. That is not where Smith has been most effective.
Timing also plays a role. The IBF is expected to move soon on Hitchins’ mandatory obligation to Lindolfo Delgado. A unification fight would override that requirement, which gives the Smith option practical relevance beyond casual talk.
Hitchins re signed with Matchroom in December, removing one potential barrier, though that alone does not signal movement toward a Smith fight. Hearn mentioned February 21 as a possible date for Hitchins’ return and suggested Hillsborough as a potential venue if a unification were ever to materialize.
That detail would matter. Hitchins would be traveling into a strong home environment for Smith, a factor that would need to be reflected financially.
There have been no negotiations between Hitchins and Smith. Historically, Hitchins has been selective in his choice of opponents, particularly when titles and location are involved.
