Teofimo’s next move: A realistic showdown with Hitchins emerges after Ennis’ decline

Eddie Hearn now has a clear path to take on the next unification bout between IBF 140lb champion Richardson Hitchins and WBO champion Teofimo Lopez. Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has decided he does not wish to face Teofimo in the title defense of his IBF welterweight belt. He says he would prefer to focus on unification at 147.

Hitchins vs Teofimo: a realistic match

Matchroom promoter Hearn is expected to contact Bob Arum, Teofimo’s boss at Top Rank, and try to negotiate a fight. It’s the best fight available for Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) because he won’t get the fight with Terence Crawford that he asked for.

Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) captured the IBF 140-pound title with a 12-round split decision victory over Liam Paro last Saturday at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Eddie Hearn-promoted Hitchins looked excellent, beating Paro by scores of 116-112, 116-112 for Paro and 117-111 for Paro.

Teofimo should want to fight Hitchins because he may choose not to accept the fight if he feels it will be difficult or a fight he could lose.

“He said he wants Teofimo Lopez. It’s a pretty big battle in New York City. Teofimo and Hitchins are both New Yorkers, both 140-pound champions,” said Chris Mannix on YouTube. “I think Teofimo-Hitchins is a much more realistic fight [than Jaron Ennis vs. Teofimo].

“I think it’s a fight that Top Rank could support financially. Teofimo is obviously team A in a fight like this. He would get most of the money and A-side billing. Even though Hitchins holds the title, he’s not that expensive.

“You can fight with Teofimo and Hitchins. Put it on ESPN. If they don’t want to put it on ESPN, Eddie Hearn could put it on DAZN. That fight makes so much more sense. It’s an interesting clash of styles, just like Paro and Hitchins. Teofimo is more of a come-forward guy. Hitchins is more of a classic boxer.

Obviously it’s not the massive fight Teofimo wants against Jaron Boots Ennis, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia or Crawford, but that’s fine with him.

“Who wins? Teofimo has a lot more pop than Liam Paro. It’s a very interesting fight at 140. It’s a fight I want to see Teofimo win. Not something like Boots Ennis,” Mannix said.

“Hitchins, no one gives him credit for his power, but I do. I could feel it and I could see it. He doesn’t engage in combinations,” Sergio Mora said. “The shot at the plate. You could feel it and you could see the respect he is getting from his opponents. I could see it on Paro’s face after the second half of the fight. He was a defeated fighter.”