IBF junior-welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) is weighing a move to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing but fears the switch could cost him his world title, according to BoxingScene. The 28-year-old Brooklyn native, whose promotional deal with Matchroom has expired, views the belt as his primary leverage for high-profile bouts against the likes of Shakur Stevenson or Keyshawn Davis.
The concern is grounded in recent precedent. On March 6, the IBF withdrew its sanctioning of Jai Opetaia’s cruiserweight defense against Brandon Glanton, just a day before the fight, because the bout was also contested for the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title. Opetaia won the fight but lost IBF belt was not on the line.
The IBF’s position hinges on Rule 5.H, which the sanctioning body quoted in its statement: “If a Champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”
The IBF only recognizes the WBA, WBC, and WBO for unification purposes under its rules. Zuffa Boxing, which operates its own championship structure modeled on the UFC, does not fall within that framework. For Hitchins, any fight at 140lbs under a Zuffa title banner would carry the same risk Opetaia absorbed at cruiserweight.
The Opetaia test case
The Opetaia situation unfolded quickly. According to the IBF’s detailed statement, the sanctioning body initially granted approval for the fight on March 5 after receiving verbal assurances from Opetaia’s representative, Sean Gibbons, that the Zuffa belt would be “characterized as a trophy or token of recognition” rather than a competing world title. The IBF said it had no direct communication with Zuffa Boxing itself regarding the bout’s sanction.
That understanding collapsed at the pre-fight press conference, where the Zuffa belt was positioned centrally on the desk in front of him. IBF President Daryl Peoples reportedly felt “disrespected” by the presentation and pulled the sanctioning that evening. Opetaia fought anyway, winning the Zuffa title but the IBF belt he has held since 2022 is currently being deliberated.
Dana White pushed back. “I can’t believe the IBF would try to do this to Jai, after all the years he spent fighting to earn that belt,” White said.
The Opetaia case demonstrated that the IBF will enforce its rules even if it loses a champion. This precedent creates the primary conflict for Hitchins.
Mandatory pressure and weight questions
On February 25, the IBF ordered him to make a mandatory defense against Lindolfo Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs), giving both camps 30 days to negotiate terms or face a purse bid.
The mandate followed an aborted title defense. Hitchins was scheduled to face Oscar Duarte on February 21 on the undercard of Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia but withdrew hours before the fight due to illness. Duarte was unsparing in his assessment. “Really, what I think is that he got scared of the moment,” Duarte said. “He was scared and he didn’t have the balls to be here.”
Beyond the mandatory, there are persistent questions about whether Hitchins can sustain 140lbs. The IBF’s second-day weigh-in rule, which caps rehydration at 10lbs over the limit, has been a source of frustration for the champion. Observers noted he appeared drawn out during his 2024 win over Gustavo Lemos, and the illness-related withdrawal against Duarte has only intensified speculation about a future move to welterweight.
A jump to 147lbs could, in theory, simplify the Zuffa equation, since Hitchins would no longer be an IBF champion at the weight. However, it would also mean giving up the title voluntarily before cashing in on the fights that make it valuable.
Zuffa’s broader push
Zuffa Boxing has planned 12 to 16 events in 2026 as part of a global expansion that includes partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s Sela. White has been open about his desire to challenge traditional sanctioning bodies, stating his intention to “get rid of” them entirely. TKO Group Holdings, Zuffa’s parent company, is reportedly lobbying for the Muhammad Ali American Revival Act, legislation that would allow promotions to award their own titles and control their own rankings.
The IBF’s rules are the current reality, and Hitchins’ 30-day window to agree terms with Delgado is already ticking.
