Hitchin\u2019s manager, Keith Connolly, confirmed the title vacation to Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n “It was a tough decision for Hitchins, but he’s outgrown the weight class; he’s been fighting at 140 since he was 16 as an amateur,” \u00a0Connolly said. “Hitchins is an elite fighter, and I truly believe he’ll be even better and stronger at welterweight and that he will be fighting for a world title at 147 in the next 12 months.” <\/p>\n Richardson Hitchins vs George Kambosos Jr | IMAGO \/ ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n The IBF also confirmed that Hitchins is relinquishing his title in an official statement.<\/p>\n “On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF confirmed in a statement.<\/p>\n “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning, and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion,\u201d the statement continued. The IBF went on to extend its best wishes and success to Hitchins.<\/p>\n Hitchins inks deal with Zuffa Boxing<\/p>\n Along with vacating the title, Hithcins expressed his excitement after officially signing with Zuffa Boxing.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a major step forward in my career,\u201d said Hitchins. “I\u2019m very grateful for this opportunity, and I want to thank Dana White, Nick Khan, and my manager, Keith Connolly, for giving a kid from Brooklyn the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage against the world’s best fighters. With Zuffa Boxing in my corner, I\u2019m going to show the world that I am a pound-for-pound, generational fighter.”<\/p>\n In the boxing landscape, Hitchins is regarded as one of the sport\u2019s bright young stars. In his last fight, Hitchins put on a dominant display, defeating George Kambosos Jr. in an eighth-round TKO on June 14, 2025, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. <\/p>\n The victory was the defense of his IBF light welterweight title. Since then, his career has taken several dramatic turns. A high-profile February 2026 title defense against Oscar Duarte was canceled hours before the opening bell due to Hitchins’ contracting an illness.<\/p>\n![\"Richardson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01jxrx6gdzk5t0vk0ada.jpg\" "\\"Richardson")
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