Trainer Robert Garcia has made a curious claim, asserting that IBF junior welterweight world champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) will defend his title in a mandatory bout against Lindolfo Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs) at a Zuffa Boxing event.
Day’s Shock? Hitchins and Delgado to Fight for IBF Belt at White’s Show – Trainer
Garcia revealed this information to Elie Seckbach, and it raises numerous questions.
Indeed, Hitchins has reportedly been considering an offer from Zuffa for some time. It’s rumored that his hesitation to sign stemmed from the situation involving a fellow fighter: the IBF recently stripped cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia of his title, ostensibly under a fabricated pretext and with a clear intention to penalize him for collaborating with Zuffa. Opetaia notably became Zuffa’s first-ever champion.
However, there’s more to consider. Dana White’s project primarily focuses on “classic” weight divisions (plus cruiserweight), and the junior welterweight category (63.5 kg) is not among them. What would be the purpose for the project to host an IBF title fight at this weight? Will they introduce a new division solely for this bout, or will they contest their own belt? This sounds doubtful.
Another crucial point: the Senate is expected to approve amendments to the Ali Act as early as today. By the time of a potential Hitchins vs. Delgado fight, the IBF would have the legal authority to strip a fighter of their title if they were to compete for a “souvenir” Zuffa belt, as Zuffa’s own titles would then be considered “official.”
What could be the explanation?
The Zuffa project encompasses not only private league fights but also major events, such as Canelo vs. Crawford or Fury vs. Makhmudov. It’s plausible that the Hitchins vs. Delgado bout could take place as part of one of these larger events. In such a scenario, the fighters would sign one-fight contracts, much like Conor Benn did previously.