Richardson Hitchins Vacates 140 Title, Signs With Zuffa Boxing for Welterweight Run

Richardson Hitchins has burned the boat behind him. The 28-year-old handed back his super lightweight world title, signed with Zuffa Boxing, and is moving up to welterweight — a triple move that reshapes his career in one go. He debuts under the new banner Sunday in the Zuffa Boxing 09 co-main event.

Hitchins carries a spotless 20-0 record with 8 knockouts into 147 pounds, most recently stopping George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round to underline his standing as a top-two super lightweight. Now he's leaving that division behind entirely, betting that the extra weight makes him a more dangerous fighter, not a diminished one.

Why Zuffa, and Why Now

The reasoning on the Zuffa side is straightforward: Hitchins says the company simply put real effort behind him, and he wants to be part of a promotion he thinks will end up running boxing. Fight week has come with noticeably more promotion than he's used to, which tells you something about how the new setup is treating him.

The weight cut has been the real revelation. Hitchins says making 147 has been far easier than grinding down to 140 in years past, leaving him feeling stronger and sharper. He's promising the kind of conditioning that lets him fight full tilt for the distance without the drain of squeezing into a lighter class.

The Salas Test

First up is Ricardo Salas, a 24-2 contender Hitchins openly rates as young, explosive and in his prime. He's not looking for excuses on either side — both men at their best, he says, and his job is to prove he's one of the purest boxers in the sport with the defense and sharpness that have defined his career.

The bigger frustration driving all of this is inactivity. Hitchins points to repeated long layoffs under previous promoters, plus a year spent sorting out his next signing, pulling out of a scheduled fight and ultimately relinquishing his belt to make the jump. He wants back in the ring before 2026 closes, ideally against a second serious opponent, Zuffa fighter or not.

His parting message was blunt. Hitchins says he's exactly who he claims to be, he's arrived at welterweight, and he intends to run the whole division. For a fighter this technically gifted and this hungry to make up for lost time, it's not an idle threat.