"I want the full percentage of what I’m owed," said Duarte, who was scheduled to challenge for the IBF super lightweight title until a last-second change on fight night.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, super lightweight contender Oscar Duarte was in the fighter hotel in Las Vegas, mentally preparing for one of the biggest tests in his boxing career to date.
The 30-year-old fighter had built an impressive résumé since losing by knockout to Ryan Garcia in 2023, rebounding with superb wins over Joseph Diaz and Kenneth Sims. But he was risking it all in a 140-pound examination against one of America’s premier boxer-punchers, IBF world champion Richardson Hitchins, a fighter earmarked as the next from the U.S. to infiltrate the sport’s top-10 pound-for-pound rankings, following in the footsteps of Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson.
Duarte had a great camp learning from one of boxing’s best coaches, Robert Garcia, at his academy in Riverside, California. He felt ready.
But then his phone rang.
“Oscar,” his brother said on the other line. “There’s an issue with Richardson Hitchins.”
There was no fight.
Defending champion Hitchins, and Duarte as the challenger, had completed both Friday’s weigh-in and Saturday’s re-weigh successfully, but the 140-pound titleholder fell ill and withdrew from the contest three hours before they were due at the T-Mobile Arena. No specific illness was reported.
“I felt sadness,” Duarte told Uncrowned through a translator this week, just five days after the canceled fight. “I felt disappointment. I trained very hard, had only victory in my mind, and I was ready to fight.
“I had the best camp of my life and brought my family in Mexico, and my baby, to come to California with me.”
A fighter absorbs the costs of flights and accommodations prior to a bout, knowing the purse they receive after the fight will satisfy earlier expenses.
But Duarte had “a weird feeling” making his way to the venue that Saturday to watch other fighters compete. “I knew it was supposed to be my turn,” he said.
There was also a question of what would happen to his pay.
Duarte had financed a training camp, made weight and was readying himself for the fight until it was taken away from him for reasons outside of his control.
“I received comments that I was going to receive a percentage of my purse,” he said. “I talked to [Golden Boy founder] Oscar De La Hoya and he said everything would get situated.”
In this instance, it is not Golden Boy’s obligation to pay, even though Duarte is their fighter, one source with knowledge of the situation told Uncrowned.
This is because, according to a second source, Golden Boy effectively sold the rights of the event to Saudi Arabian firm Sela, who should ensure the athletes receive their payments.
Sela, per an Uncrowned source, "does not want to pay Duarte's purse." They said Golden Boy is going to pay approximately 28-30% of the total amount owed to Duarte, even though "it's Sela's obligation, and Sela has not provided a doctor's note for Hitchins pulling out."
The source added that it's their understanding Sela needed to have a commission doctor to confirm Hitchins was unable to compete, "Proof of which has not been provided."
Golden Boy fighter Ryan Garcia cast doubt on Hitchins’ claim of an illness when in his locker room at this past Saturday's event, in footage DAZN aired on Tik Tok.
Sela had not responded to Uncrowned's request to comment at the time of publication.
“I did my work,” Duarte said. “And I want the full percentage of what I’m owed. I’m professional when it comes to fights, opponents and making weight. I just want that same respect.”
It’s unlikely Duarte will even get an immediate shot back at Hitchins, as the IBF has since ordered a mandatory bout between the champion and Lindolfo Delgado. All parties involved have 30 days to come to an agreement, and the IBF's decision effectively shelves the Duarte contest for now.
Duarte said he’s happy for Delgado, describing Lindolfo “as a great friend of his.”
“But if Hitchins was a man, he should fight me — that’s the fight that fans want to see,” he said. “I’d still love to fight Richardson.”
Outside of Hitchins, there are other names Duarte is ready to fight, and he can do so relatively quickly having benefitted already from an eight-week camp.
“I’m ready to fight anyone. I would love to fight 'Pitbull' [Isaac Cruz],” Duarte said of the stocky slugger who is rarely in anything other than fan-friendly firefights.
“I recognize 'Pitbull' for what he has done for boxing — all the sacrifices he’s gone through, to put himself in the position that he is in, and I’d just love for him to give me that opportunity because everyone knows styles make fights, and that would be a bloody war fans will love.
Duarte continued: “Any of the champions I’d fight, whether that’s Gary Antuanne Russell, Shakur Stevenson or Dalton Smith.
“I’ve earned that world title opportunity. I’m ready for anybody.”
Duarte may not have lost in Las Vegas, but unless he’s paid properly and gets another fight lined up against Hitchins or an alternative champion, it won’t feel like a win either.
Category: General Sports
