Eddie Hearn now has a clear path to a unification fight between IBF 140lb champion Richardson Hitchens and WBO champion Teofimo Lopez next. Jaron 'Boots' Ennis has decided that he does not want to face Teofimo in defending his IBF welterweight title. He says he prefers to focus on unification at 147.
Hitchens vs. Teofimo: Realistic match
Matchroom promoter Hearn should contact Bob Arum, Teofimo's boss at Top Rank, and try to negotiate a fight. It's the best contest available for Teofimo (21-1, 13 KO) because he won't get the Terence Crawford bout he's been asking for.
Hitchens (19-0, 7 KOs) captured the IBF 140-pound title with a 12-round split decision win over Liam Barrow last Saturday night at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Hitchins promoted by Eddie Hearn looked excellent, beating Barrow by scores of 116-112, 116-112 Barrow and 117-111 Barrow.
Teofimo must want to fight Hitchens because he may choose not to fight the match if he feels it will be difficult or a fight he might lose.
“He said he wants Teofimo Lopez. This is a very big fight in New York City. Teofimo and Hitchens are both New Yorkers, they're both 140-pound champions.” YouTube. “I think the Teofimo-Hitchens fight is a more realistic fight (than the Jaron Ennis vs. Teofimo fight).
“I think this is a fight that Top Rank can take financially. Teofimo is obviously the top side in a fight like this. He'll get the bulk of the money, he'll get the top side billing. Even though Hitchens is the title holder, he's not that expensive .
“You can put a fight with Teofimo and Hitchens. Put it on ESPN. If they don't want to put it on ESPN, Eddie Hearn can put it on DAZN. This fight makes more sense. This is an interesting clash of styles, just like Barrow and Hitchens. Teofimo is more than just A progressive man, Hitchens is more than a classic boxer.
It's obviously not the huge fight Teofimo wants against Jaron Butts Ennis, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, or Crawford, but it's as good as it gets.
“Who wins? Teofimo has a lot more pop than Liam Barrow. This is a very exciting fight at 140. It's a fight I want to see Teofimo win. It's nothing like Boots Ennis,” Mannix said.
“Hitchens, no one gives him credit for his strength, but I appreciate it. I could hear it, I could see it. He doesn't stick to combinations,” Sergio Moura said. “The bowl shot. You can hear it, and you can see the respect he gets from his opponents. I could see it in Barrow's face after the second half of the fight. “He was a defeated fighter.”
