IBF super-lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins has revealed his prediction forward of this month’s 140lb title conflict between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson.
Hitchins obtained his fingers on the IBF strap when he outpointed Liam Paro in Puerto Rico in late 2024, however ‘Africa’ made only one defence of the belt throughout 2025, knocking out George Kambosos Jr in an announcement win.
Since then, the New Yorker has been chasing a unification conflict together with his fellow super-lightweight rulers, however WBO titleholder Lopez as a substitute opted to tackle three-division champion Shakur Stevenson, with that contest scheduled to happen in two weeks’ time.
Forward of the bout, Hitchins informed FightHype that he’s anticipating a dominant win for Stevenson, believing the undefeated Newark sensation to be a ‘completely different stage’ of fighter to Lopez.
“Shakur finna f**ok Teo up. I’m telling you, Teo higher wake the f**ok up.
“I believe it may be aggressive, Teo is actual gifted, Shakur is actual defensive, and I really feel like when a fighter is tremendous defensive, it might play towards you additionally, for those who go in there and attempt to be actually defensive.
“Shakur is a high-level boxer and Teo ain’t on Shakur’s stage. Teo is aware of that and, like I informed Teo once I noticed him, it’s completely different. He informed me that me and Shakur is used to one another, that’s the reason I believe it’s completely different, and that Shakur isn’t used to him. In two weeks, we’ll see [who is right].”
Nonetheless, Hitchins then went on to name for a conflict with Lopez, if the latter is ready to overcome Stevenson, revealing that he has unfinished enterprise with ‘The Takeover’.
“Teo, for those who by some means win n***a, combat me! Struggle me, that’s the combat I need, combat me. I’ve been calling for that combat, folks saying that I’m clout chasing and I’m saying names.
“After I obtained out of the ring with George Kambosos and Teo was proper there within the crowd, that was the combat that we was speculated to be making occur subsequent.
“Shakur jumped in there and intercepted my s**t, nevertheless it’s cool although. If Teo will get the job completed, I’m right here.”
Lopez-Stevenson goes forward on Saturday, January 31, at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place the intriguing predominant occasion is supported by two additional world title scraps on the undercard.
