Richardson Hitchins disputes Jamaine Ortiz claim over January 31 fight

Two fighters saying opposite things. Paperwork in limbo. Everyone “ready,” nobody confirmed.

Richardson Hitchins says he signed. Jamaine Ortiz says he didn’t. That gap matters more than the words themselves. At 140, inactivity costs position fast, and this division does not wait politely while contracts float around.

“I’ve been signed to fight this guy last week,” Hitchins wrote on X. “I don’t know what his people on his end are telling him. I’ve been getting ready, and I’m ready to fight today.”

Who Actually Loses If This Drags On?

Richardson Hitchins needs rounds. Not noise. His style depends on rhythm and control, on dictating pace from the outside and forcing opponents to reset over and over. That only sharpens in real fights. Long gaps dull timing. Feet slow first. Then the jab loses authority.

Jamaine Ortiz is a pressure reader. He needs a body in front of him to solve. Feints, half-steps, drawing counters, then taking ground. Miss a date and he risks being treated like the fallback option again, the guy called when someone else collapses.

Business-wise, this is worse. No promoter confirmation means no leverage. Once a fight sits unsigned long enough, it quietly slips behind other obligations. Mandatories. Network priorities. Someone else gets the slot.

Why the Division Can’t Afford Another Stall

140 is crowded with fighters circling position without separating themselves. This fight was supposed to clarify something. Styles that clash cleanly. Structure versus pressure. Back foot discipline against front foot insistence.

If it falls apart, both men slide sideways. Not backward. Sideways is worse. Rankings don’t punish inactivity loudly. They just stop rewarding you.

The IBF staying silent is standard. It also means nobody is forcing hands yet. Until they do, this remains optional, and optional fights are the first to die.

The Real Risk If It Goes Wrong

If Hitchins is telling the truth and the fight collapses anyway, he looks stalled again. Another camp burned. Another explanation. That chips away at trust, not talent.

If Ortiz’s side is right, he risks being seen as difficult, even when he isn’t. Boxing remembers labels longer than details.

Either way, the favourite doesn’t gain safety here. He gains exposure. Miss this window, and the division moves on without waiting.