Richardson Hitchins believes that
Frank Martin’s confidence is bordering on delusion.
Last Saturday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Martin ended an 18-month layoff. His time away seemingly did him well, as he bounced back from a 2024 eighth-round KO defeat to against Gervonta Davis by scoring a fourth-round
Knockout of the Year contender over long-faded former champion, Rances Barthelemy.
Immediately after, Martin (19-1, 13 KOs) revealed that he would love a shot at Hitchins and his IBF 140-pound title. He also stated that he has the power to stop The Ring’s No. 1 ranked junior welterweight. Upon hearing those words, Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) couldn’t believe it.
“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.”
It’s been somewhat of a quiet 2025 for the Brooklyn native. So far, he’s appeared just once,
stopping George Kambosos in the eighth round on June 14, at Madison Square Garden's Theater in New York.
Since then, Hitchins has called out several recognizable names, including Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and Brian Norman Jr.
Martin, though, remains an interesting matchup, but the former title challenger isn’t ranked in the IBF’s top 15. If, however, he fights his way up the rankings and earns his shot at Hitchins, the 28-year-old will take him on. With that said, if it does happen, he promises to make Martin regret ever calling him out.
“If he ever gets in the ring with me,” Hitchins continued. “I’ll beat him the hell up.”