Promoter Eddie Hearn confirms plans have been made for a next 140 unification bout between Turki Alsheikh and light welterweight champions Richardson Hitchens and Teofimo Lopez negotiation. Hearn is confident that his fighter, IBF champion Hitchens (19-0, 7 KOs), will defeat WBO belt holder Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) next.
Teofimo reportedly signed a three-game deal with Turki:
- Richardson Hitchens
- Jalen Ennis
- Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 Winner or Loser (Most Likely to Loser)
Hearn confirms talks
“Yes, there have been times. Not with the most senior people, but with His Excellency (Turki Sheikh),” Eddie Hearn said fight hype When asked if a unification fight had been discussed between Richardson Hitchens and Teofimo Lopez.
“Keith Connolly represents both of those guys. So, we’re ready for this fight. Richardson is ready to jump right into the unification fight. Obviously, the deal has to be right, but there’s no question. It was a good battle for New York, Te’o vs. Hitchens, and we won that battle.
“So, forget about Teofimo Lopez’s plans. Richardson Hitchens is going to beat Teofimo Lopez. So, we’re ready for this fight. It could be Teofimo Mo Lopez,” Hearn said when asked what’s next for Hitchens. “Before Teofimo, we were just planning the George Kambosos fight in New York in the summer”
Hearn is right. Hitchens will 100% beat Teofimo and make the whole thing look easy. For Hitchens, it was an easier fight than his Dec. 7 victory over IBF 140-pound champion Liam Parrow. If Turki expects Teofimo to play three tough games in his contract, he will lose them all, starting with Richardson.
Teofimo won’t fight Hitchens unless Turki Shaikh pays him a lot of money because that’s not his style for hard fights, especially after his struggles with Jermaine Ortiz, After Xander Martin and George Kambosos Jr. were burned during the game.
Kambosos’ hopes dashed
“George will be back. He will be back in Australia and then the plan is to move him straight to Richardson Hitchens. If Hitchens does play Lopez we’ll see what happens but George’s goal is to play 147, we’ll see what happens,” Hearn said.
No one wants to see Kambosos Jr. become the man to challenge Hitchens for the IBF belt, as he doesn’t think he can win a world title due to his poor record over the past three years. Kambosos is heading toward journeyman status and doesn’t expect a title shot with a 1-3 record in his past four games. In no other sport do you go into a championship game with a record like that.
