Richardson Hitchins isn’t buying the renewed confidence coming from Frank Martin and he’s not subtle about it, either. Following Martin’s explosive fourth-round knockout of former champion Rances Barthelemy on Saturday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the Detroit native wasted no time calling for a shot at Hitchins’ IBF junior welterweight title. Martin, who ended an 18-month layoff and rebounded from his 2024 knockout loss to Gervonta Davis, declared he not only wants the fight, but believes he has the power to stop the unbeaten champion.
Hitchins could hardly believe what he heard. “He’s lost his mind,” Hitchins told The Ring. “He’s not on my level. I’m the best fighter in the division and one of the best fighters in the world.”
Hitchins’ 2025 Has Been Quiet but Dominant
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1 junior welterweight, has fought just once in 2025 but made it count. In June, he stopped former unified world champion George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round at the Theater at Madison Square Garden—a performance that elevated him into the conversation as one of boxing’s most technically gifted operators.
Since that win, Hitchins has publicly called out names like Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and Brian Norman Jr. He’s been seeking high-profile opponents, but so far, none of those matchups have materialized.
Martin’s KO Revives His Name but Not His Ranking
Martin (19-1, 13 KOs) reinserted himself into the boxing conversation with Saturday’s knockout, but there’s still a major obstacle between him and Hitchins: he isn’t ranked in the IBF’s top 15.
That means he isn’t currently eligible to challenge for Hitchins’ belt.
Still, the Brooklyn champion hasn’t ruled out the matchup so long as Martin earns it.
“If he fights his way up the rankings and earns his shot, sure,” Hitchins said. “But right now? He’s not even in the picture.”
Hitchins Issues a Final Warning
Despite Martin’s renewed energy and belief in his power at 140 pounds, Hitchins remains unmoved. If anything, he finds the whole thing amusing.
“If he ever gets in the ring with me,” Hitchins said, “I’ll beat him the hell up.”
For now, the callout remains just talk. But the tension is real and if Martin climbs into the IBF rankings, this one could turn into a real grudge fight.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
