IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins, an undefeated fighter with a record of 20-0 (8 KOs), officially relinquished his title on April 20, 2026, to transition to the 147-pound welterweight division. This significant career move follows his recent signing with Zuffa Boxing, a promotion that has previously seen another IBF champion, Jai Opetaia, stripped of his cruiserweight title after joining.

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) confirmed Hitchins' decision in a statement, expressing their pride in having him as a world champion and acknowledging his talent and journey to the championship. The IBF extended its best wishes for his continued success in the higher weight class.

Hitchins' decision to vacate his title rather than face another potential crossroads with the IBF, especially after the precedent set by Opetaia, was largely influenced by his struggles with the 140-pound limit. He was previously scheduled to defend his IBF title against Oscar Duarte in February but withdrew due to illness on the day of the fight, having experienced significant difficulty with the weight cut and the same-day weigh-in clause that restricts fighters from gaining more than 10 pounds above the division's limit.

According to his manager, Keith Connolly, in an interview with Ring Magazine, Hitchins has simply outgrown the junior welterweight division, having competed at 140 pounds since he was a 16-year-old amateur. Connolly expressed strong confidence in Hitchins' potential at welterweight, stating, "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."

Before his move, Hitchins was in discussions to defend his title against Mexico's Lindolfo Delgado. With the title now vacant, the IBF plans to order Delgado, the #1 challenger in the division, to negotiate for the championship against the next leading available contender. Oscar Duarte, ranked third by the IBF, is expected to be a strong candidate for the vacant #2 spot.

This development was reported by Andreas Hale, a combat sports reporter for ESPN, who covers MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Hale, a host for Sirius XM's Fight Nation and a former senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News, has also covered Hitchins' career previously, including his illness before the Duarte fight and his signing with Zuffa Boxing. Hale is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker.