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Hitchins’ withdrawal from the Garcia-Barrios co-main exposes the complexities of weight management in high-stakes boxing matches.Brooklyn Today
Richardson Hitchins, the undefeated IBF 140-pound champion, has withdrawn from his co-main event fight against Duarte on the Garcia-Barrios card. Hitchins fell ill after the weigh-in, vomiting and deciding he could not compete. The IBF enforces a strict rehydration limit on fight day, which Hitchins had previously struggled with.
Why it matters
Hitchins’ withdrawal is a major blow to the stacked Garcia-Barrios PPV card, which was set to feature two world title fights. The rehydration rules have been a point of contention, as fighters must carefully manage their weight to avoid missing the limit and being pulled from bouts.
The details
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) had been scheduled to defend his IBF junior welterweight title against Duarte in the co-main event slot. However, after the weigh-in on Friday, Hitchins fell ill and began vomiting, ultimately deciding he could not compete. The IBF enforces a rehydration limit of no more than 10 pounds above the 140-pound division limit on the morning of the fight, a rule Hitchins had previously struggled with.
Hitchins was scheduled to fight on the Garcia-Barrios PPV card on April 12, 2026.Hitchins withdrew from the fight after falling ill following the weigh-in on April 11, 2026.
The players
Richardson Hitchins
The undefeated IBF 140-pound champion who was forced to withdraw from his co-main event fight due to illness.
Duarte
Hitchins’ scheduled opponent in the co-main event on the Garcia-Barrios PPV card.
Mario Barrios
The WBC welterweight champion who is the headliner of the Garcia-Barrios PPV event.
The challenger to Barrios’ WBC welterweight title in the main event of the Garcia-Barrios PPV.
Daryl Peoples
The president of the IBF, who did not respond to a request for comment on Hitchins’ withdrawal.
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What they’re saying
“I gained a lot of experience from that fight, especially with the way I rehydrated. It showed me that rehydrating the wrong way can almost cost you a fight, and I think that fight was closer than it should have been. I made it look closer than it should have been because of fatigue in the ring.”
— Richardson Hitchins, IBF 140-pound champion
What’s next
The judge in Hitchins’ case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him out on bail pending a potential rescheduled fight.
The takeaway
Hitchins’ withdrawal highlights the challenges fighters face in managing weight and rehydration limits, which can have major impacts on high-profile events. This incident raises questions about the fairness and enforcement of these rules, as well as the need for fighter safety to be the top priority.