“I fight on February 21 in Vegas for the world title against Richardson Hitchins,” Duarte said X.
The fight represents Duarte’s first opportunity to fight for a major world title and puts him on a high note immediately following a major rehab over the past two years. It also poses a common question for Hitchins, whose personal control often comes under pressure from fighters willing to stay in his position.
Duarte fights on the front foot and throws often. He will fight in the first round that Gustavo Lemos used against Hitchins in April 2024. Hitchins won a unanimous decision in that contest, but the fight raised questions about his ability to continue to command the structure when making weight.
For Duarte, the title comes after a period of continuous action rather than a single victory. Duarte has won four straight fights since his knockout of Ryan Garcia in December 2023. He will fight twice in 2024 and twice in 2025.
Those wins came against opponents who weren’t in a position to put him squarely in a tie, but they did serve a purpose. Duarte stayed strong, rotated, and rebuilt without losing from the competition. It is important to approach a twelve-round fight against a champion based on rhythm and control.
Hitchins remains happy. His discipline, footwork, and ability to limit turnovers give him the tools to handle opponent pressure. The question is not whether he can win tournaments, but whether he can do it cleanly enough to avoid the kind of uncertainty that followed his last major test.
This is not a new defense or a sit-down fight. A matchup style that demands attention from the early rounds. Duarte didn’t need to outbox Hitchins to change the tone of the fight. It only has to stay so long that the pressure cannot be avoided.