Richardson Hitchins, the newly crowned IBF light welterweight champion, is on a mission. After capturing the title last Saturday night against Liam Paro, he now has his sights set on his first defense. Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) believes that Devin Haney, who had previously stated he would fight him if he won a belt, is the next logical opponent.

The Battle for Boxing Supremacy

Opportunity and Obstacles

One of the major obstacles that could stand in the way of a Hitchins-Haney fight is the IBF's 10-lb rehydration limit. Hitchins weighed in successfully for his title bout, but Haney would need to keep his weight no higher than 150 overnight after the secondary weigh-in on the morning of the fight. If Haney needs to rehydrate to 165, the IBF's rehydration clause will prevent him from taking on Hitchins. This presents a significant challenge and could potentially lead to Haney rejecting the fight.After losing to Ryan Garcia earlier this year on April 20th, Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) has been sitting idle for the past 7 1/2 months. The boxing world is now waiting to see if he will respond to Hitchins' call for a fight.

Hitchins' Winning Streak and Legacy

Hitchins schooled IBF light welterweight champion Paro (25-1, 15 KOs), defeating him by a 12-round unanimous decision at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The scores were 116-112, 116-112 for Hitchins, and 117-111 for Paro. This victory has further solidified Hitchins' position as a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.Paro's fans may feel that he made a mistake by agreeing to fight Hitchins on neutral turf instead of insisting on fighting in his native Australia to gain an advantage with the fans and the scoring. However, it's possible that Paro's class was simply too far above Hitchins' that it wouldn't have made a difference even if the judges were from Australia.Hitchins is now ready for any of the top names in the sport. He wants the biggest fight in boxing and is determined to secure his legacy and provide for his family. With his recent victory and his ambition, Hitchins is set to make a significant impact on the boxing world.