Eddie Hearn said he was disappointed by IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins’ decision to announce to the crowd that he’s entering free agency following his eighth-round knockout over George Kambosos Jr. last Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Hitchins’ Free Agency Stunt Backfires

Hearn didn’t like the way Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) chose to announce it inside the ring after thanking Hearn and Matchroom for having brought him “to the top,” getting him a world title and fights against Kambosos. The decision by Hitchins to announce fans on social media was seen as a low-class move, showing disloyalty after what Hearn had done for his career since signing him in 2022.

Hitchins was likely hoping that revealing he was a free agent while the spotlight was on him would result in a stampede of interest from other promoters, such as Turki Alalshikh. However, that’s not happening. Hearn says he spoke with Turki, and he said he wouldn’t be dealing with Hitchins unless Matchroom is involved. So, unless Richardson returns to the Matchroom flock, his chances of getting the big money that he’s likely dreaming of will be slim.

No Big Money Without Turki

The fighters that Hitchins called out inside the ring, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, will be expecting the big money they were paid on Turki’s Riyadh Season card on May 2nd at Times Square in New York. Both reportedly were paid $10 million for tune-up fights. They won’t get that kind of money fighting Hitchins without Turki involved.

Hitchins isn’t a PPV attraction. So, even if one of the outside promoters were interested in making a fight between him and Haney or Lopez, they wouldn’t be able to guarantee the kind of dough that they were just paid. Hitchins would obviously want similar money for an event that wouldn’t sell if it were placed on PPV. The event would hemorrhage money.

I don’t know why Hearn would want to re-sign Hitchins because he doesn’t have the fighting style to become a star. Even if he does come back to Matchroom, Hearn would have problems putting together the fights Hitchins wants against Teofimo, Haney, and Ryan Garcia without Turki’s involvement.

Hitchins is a throwback fighter from the 1990s Mayweather era, but his fighting style is less engaging to watch compared to other fighters from that era. Indeed, he was upstaged last Saturday by lightweight contender Andy Cruz, a boxer/puncher, who demolished Hironori Mishiro in five rounds in the co-feature. Cruz stole the show with his performance.

Turki Alalshikh Supports Matchroom Loyalty

”I was disappointed with Richardson Hitchins’ comments in the ring. And then wants to tell the world he’s a free agent. It left a really bad taste in the mouth after all the investment we’ve made in his career,” said Eddie Hearn to The Ring, giving his thoughts on Richardson Hitchins announcing inside the ring that he’s a free agent last Saturday.

Getting Hitchins the fight against Kamboso was a gift to him, because none of the other notable fighters wanted to face him, because he’s a defensive, safety-first fighter with a boring style. Without Hearn setting up that fight with the old vet Kambosos, Hitchins would have been stuck defending against his #1 IBF contender, Subriel Matias.

That guy would punch holes through Hitchins with the shots that he would be hitting him with. Other dangerous sharks out there would prey on a weak champion like Hitchins. For example, Ernesto Mercado and Keyshawn Davis would feast on Hitchins because he would have nothing to keep them off.

“We’ve done an incredible job for Richardson Hitchins. We’ve kept him nice and busy; headlined him four times. I had a heartwarming call from Turki Alalshikh this morning, who confirmed he will only deal with Matchroom moving forward on Richardson Hitchins. So we will begin those discussions,” said Hearn.

Hitchins will need to decide whether he wants to return to Hearn, if he’ll still have him, or take a risk on the free agent market. He may not like what he finds. Those fighters that Hitchins called out, Haney and Teofimo, won’t agree to fight him for less money than they got for their tune-ups on May 2nd. Why else would they want to fight a defensive artist like Hitchins unless they’re getting bigger purses than the ones they just received?

Post-Fight Free Agent Booing

“I want to thank Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for two years of getting my career to the top. I’m going into free agency now. So, there are a lot of options,” said Hitchins in the post-fight interview last Saturday after knocking out the shopworn George Kambosos Jr, where he announced that he’s a free agent and was immediately booed by the New York fans for this low-class move.

“I want the big fights. After my last fight, I called Teofimo out right away. Obviously, he has other plans, so I don’t know what’s next. I’m looking at the camera. Devin Haney,” said Hitchins, who then shouted expletives in a callout of Haney.