Eddie Hearn believes a junior-welterweight unification title fight between Teofimo Lopez and Richardson Hitchins could be agreed imminently.
Lopez, the WBO and Ring Magazine champion, appears keen on the idea of fighting the IBF champion Hitchins. The 27 year old has had a difficult relationship with Hearn, Hitchins’ promoter, ever since he lost his unified lightweight titles to George Kambosos – a fight Lopez continues to believe he won – on a Matchroom promotion.
Turki Alalshikh has recently had meetings with Lopez in London, and there followed rumors that a deal for a unification with Hitchins had been reached. Hearn, in turn, has told BoxingScene that he is still pushing Alalshikh to make that fight.
“I spoke to [Alalshikh] about it and said, ‘Look, I’m hearing all this stuff, do you want to do it?’” he said. “Because we’re up for it, and Richardson Hitchins loves that fight. He thinks he wins that fight. It’s a great fight for America. What a fight for New York – two guys out of Brooklyn.”
Hearn revealed that during the build-up to the rematch on February 22 between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is when that fight could be made.
“The reality now, is that Feb 22nd, that week, fight week in Riyadh, is where all the big business is going to take part,” he said. “So, watch this space.
“When the whole boxing world is there and with [Alalshikh], he’s going to look to get everything done. He works 23 hours every day and he doesn’t stop having meetings. So, he moves quickly when it comes to making deals.”
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