Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that there are talks between Turki Al Sheikh and light welterweight champions Richardson Hitchens and Teofimo Lopez for their next unification fight at 140. Hearn is confident that his fighter, IBF champion Hitchens (19-0, 7 KOs) will defeat the WBO belt holder. Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) is up next.
Teofimo has reportedly signed a three-way deal with Turki for these three matches:
- Richardson Hitchens
- Jaron Ennis
- Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney 2 Win or lose (most likely loser)
Hearn confirms talks
“Yes, he was there,” Eddie Hearn said. “Not with the highest order, but with His Excellency (Turki Al-Sheikh).” Fighthype When asked if there were discussions about a unification fight between Richardson Hitchens and Teofimo Lopez.
“Keith Connolly represents both men. So, we’re ready for that fight. Richardson is ready to jump right into the unification fight. Obviously the deal has to be right, but no problem. It’s a great fight for New York, Theo versus Hitchens, and we won.” In that fight well.
“So, forget about Teofimo Lopez’s plans. Richardson Hitchens beats Teofimo Lopez. So, we’re ready for that fight. Maybe Teofimo Lopez,” Hearn said when asked about Hitchins’ next step. “Before Teofimo, we were just planning the George Kambosos fight in New York in summer”
Hearn is right. Hitchens will outplay Teofimo 100% and make it look easy in the process. This would be an easier victory for Hitchens than his dominant win over IBF 140lb champion Liam Barrow on December 7. If Turk wants Teofimo to have three tough fights as part of his contract, he will lose them all, starting with Richardson.
Teofimo will not fight Hitchens unless Turki Al-Sheikh offers him a boat of money because this is not his style of fighting difficult fights, especially after he got burned in his matches against Jamin Ortiz, Sandor Martin and George Kambosos Jr.
Kambosos’s fading hopes
“George will be back. He’ll be back in Australia, so the plan is to take him straight to the Richardson-Hitchins family. If Hitchens faces Lopez, we’ll see what happens, but George is targeting 147, we’ll see what happens,” Hearn said.
No one wants to see Kambosos Jr. be the one to compete with Hitchens for the IBF belt because he doesn’t value him winning a world title with his terrible record in the last three years. Kambosos is heading into journeyman status, and he’s not valuing a title shot with his 1-3 record in his last four fights. You can’t go to a championship game with that kind of record in any other sport.
