Hitchins is taking an alternative route to become a money fighter by facing the less-than-best. He’s finding out the hard way that his strategy isn’t working fast enough.
Hitchins is 28, and the closest he’s come to a decent payday is fighting the down-and-out, struggling former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. last June.
The Brooklyn, New York native Hitchins could speed things up, beating the talented fighters at 140, like Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias, but he hasn’t shown the motivation to do so thus far. Fighting them would be the ideal way for Hitchins to enter the bracket of the well-paying fighters like Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, and now Shakur Stevenson
“The fight with me with all these guys will happen, but money is a deciding factor,” said Richardson Hitchins to YSM Sports Media. “I’m not going to fight a guy for a certain type of money that I feel like I deserve more than that. That’s with anybody.”
Why the Keyshawn Fight Didn’t Happen
It’s believed that Hitchins priced himself out for the January 31st card by asking for $2.5 million for a fight against inactive former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis for what would have been the co-feature slot. $2.5 million isn’t that much compared to the money that Haney and Ryan are enjoying at 147.
Hitchins doesn’t have the same fanbase as those fighters for him to be offered the nice paydays they’re receiving.
“Crawford wouldn’t have fought Canelo if the money wasn’t right. Floyd would have never fought Pacquiao if the money wasn’t right. So, y’all will get all the fights,” said Hitchins, comparing his situation with greats.
There’s a big difference between the likes of Crawford and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and their career situations. Those fighters were taking risks for many years before they finally got the big paydays late in their careers.
Time Working Against Him
In contrast, Hitchins hasn’t been taking the risks, and he’s closing in on 29. He needs to start taking chances with risky fights for less money now so he can build his name up. What he’s doing now is putting the cart before the horse, expecting to get the giant paydays without the hard work being put in initially.
“The boxing world will get all the fights that they want. But the fighters got to make sure that when we go out there to risk our lives, we get compensated, and we’re getting treated fairly,” said Hitchins.
