Because Zuffa doesn’t recognize the 140-pound class, Richardson Hitchins is effectively a person and not using a division. This leaves him with only two realistic paths: Vacate his IBF Title: To stick with Zuffa, he would need to abandon his status because the 140-pound champion.
“It is a major step forward in my profession,” said Hitchins. “I’m very grateful for giving a child from Brooklyn the chance to fight on the largest stage against the world’s best fighters. With Zuffa Boxing in my corner, I’m going to indicate the world that I’m a pound-for-pound, generational fighter.”
He would need to jump to Welterweight, a division Zuffa does support, but one where he’ll face significantly larger and more powerful opponents.
If Zuffa really desires to make this work, they’d almost need to construct your complete welterweight division around Hitchins, but why would they do this for a man who has a history of being difficult to get into the ring?
Hitchins could thrive at welterweight with careful matchmaking, but that’s the exact opposite of the Zuffa/UFC brand.
If Hitchins tries to administer his profession inside a promotion designed for max output, he could find himself benched. He’s a fighter who needs careful matchmaking, but he just signed with a promoter who likes to make entertaining fights that fans ant to see.
If he gets matched with a high-pressure welterweight who doesn’t respect his power because, let’s be honest, he’s not a one-punch knockout artist, he’s going to be in a world of trouble. Without the power to barter his way across the sharks, he’s essentially volunteered to be fish food if his skills don’t evolve overnight.
Edgar Berlanga, by comparison, suits the Zuffa structure without adjustment. He’s already campaigning at 168 and doesn’t rely upon a title to stay relevant.
“Zuffa Boxing is changing the sport,” said Berlanga. “I’m here for the largest fights on boxing’s best platform. I’m here to place the super middleweight division on notice. ‘The Monster’ is back!”
Berlanga has lived in a laboratory-sealed environment for his entire profession. If Zuffa builds a walled garden where he only fights a set list of in-house names, they will keep the wheels on the wagon for some time longer by selling his personality and Recent York/Puerto Rican marketability.
Putting Berlanga into the final population of boxing can be an actual problem for him. At 168 kilos, the difference between a reputation like Berlanga and the actual elite is a canyon.
If Zuffa actually follows the UFC model of matchmaking, Berlanga can’t be maneuvered anymore. In a league that forces the perfect to fight the perfect, Berlanga loses his only real value. Once he loses three or 4 times in a row against legitimate contenders, the “Chosen One” branding loses its meaning.
As we saw within the Canelo and Sheeraz fights, his footwork is heavy, and his defensive IQ is basic. If Berlanga is forced to share the water with the likes of David Benavidez, Christian Mbilli, or perhaps a rising killer like Diego Pacheco without the protection of a careful promoter, he gets taken apart.