Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios Undercard Loses Key Bout on Fight Day

Richardson Hitchins is officially out.

According to Ring Magazine, Richardson Hitchins fell ill a day after the weigh-in and has withdrawn on short notice from his scheduled IBF junior welterweight title defense against Oscar Duarte. Reports indicate Hitchins became sick during the same-day rehydration weight check, derailing what was expected to be a key co-feature bout.

Under IBF regulations, fighters competing for an IBF title must not exceed 10 pounds above the contracted weight limit during the same-day weigh-in. For a 140-pound title fight, that means participants cannot weigh more than 150 pounds at the check. The rule is designed to prevent extreme rehydration advantages and maintain competitive fairness. Hitchins’ illness during that process ultimately forced the late withdrawal.

The timing stings considering the run Hitchins has been on.

He entered tonight riding a wave of momentum: a June stoppage win over George Kambosos Jr. at Madison Square Garden to capture IBF world honors, a dominant December performance against Liam Paro in San Juan, and victories over Gustavo Daniel Lemos, Jose Zepeda, and John Bauza-Fernandez. The unbeaten stretch cemented his standing at 140 and positioned him as one of the division’s most disciplined operators.

Now, the Garcia vs. Barrios main event rolls forward — but without one of the card’s most compelling matchups.