The camaraderie between Ring, WBO 140-pound champion Shakur Stevenson and WBO No. 1 contender Keyshawn Davis means that we won’t see one of the best fights that can be staged in the sport. The pair have previously stated the thought of fighting each other is a non-starter.

Another similar situation could be simmering between Stevenson and IBF junior welterweight crownholder Richardson Hitchins. But even though Hitchins is labeling Stevenson as a sibling, he’s still ready to lay some hands on him in a sanctioned setting.

"Shakur is my brother and we've been in the gym together since we were babies. I know what kind of fighter he is and what he could do,” said Hitchins. “Me and Shakur boxed more than a hundred times in the gym. We love testing our skills against each other, and have done it without headgear, too. We've done it year over year to see how much better we've gotten, and if anyone lost a step.

“But at the end of the day, he's a competitor, I'm a competitor. I feel like it wouldn't be any different doing it under the lights for tons of money and legacy. It's not a fight that I want, obviously. But if the money is right, and the opportunity is right, of course I am open to it. We take on all comers.”

With Stevenson barely settling into the junior welterweight division after beating Teofimo Lopez last month, the next contender queued to face Hitchins is Oscar Duarte. The fight takes place on February 21 and will be featured on “The Ring: High Stakes” show at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the co-main event to the Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia fight on DAZN PPV.

The last time Hitchins fought in Las Vegas against a hard-hitting Latino, many believed he lost a decision to Gustavo Lemos in April 2024.

IBF junior welterweight titleholder Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) is promising that history won’t repeat itself when he takes on Mexican power-puncher Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs).

“Oscar Duarte is a tough guy,” said Hitchins. “He comes forward and goes to the body a lot. He's confident, and I'm confident. This is a guy who I can show a lot of parts of my game. I'm excited. He's going to be a great name on my resume. I am grateful for the opportunity.

“This is his first world title shot and he's going to come in hungry. This is going to be a firefight, and a tough, fun fight, something like the Lemos fight. This time I will be way more prepared, better and smarter as a fighter. I will put on a dominant performance.”

Hitchins, a 28-year-old Brooklyn, New York native, was able to sneak away victorious against Lemos and walk straight into a title shot six months later against Liam Paro. Hitchins seized the opportunity, scored the belt by beating Paro via split decision and defended it with an eighth-round stoppage of George Kambosos Jr in June.

“I'm going to go out there and prove that I am the best fighter in the sport of boxing, period,” said Hitchins. “None of these guys is on my level. Duarte is going to be another victim and is going to learn the hard way. I'm different, and you saw it in my last fight against Kambosos. He was in there with Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko, and I proved that I was different by beating him down in a bloody massacre.”

Duarte, a 30-year-old from Chihuahua, Mexico, is trained by Robert Garcia and has revived his career with four-consecutive wins after suffering an eighth-round knockout loss to Ryan Garcia in 2023. Duarte has followed up the loss with wins against Kenneth Sims Jr., Miguel Madueno, Botirzhon Akhmedov, and Joseph Diaz.

But Hitchins, The Ring’s No. 2-ranked contender at 140 pounds, is as crafty as they come and should provide a problematic puzzle for Duarte to solve.

“Nothing much [concerns me with Duarte’s skillset]. I've seen his style before,” said Hitchins. “I know fighters like Duarte have a lot of will and he's not going to stop coming, but I won't stop either.”

Hitchins, The Ring’s No. 2-ranked contender at 140 pounds, was originally to face Jamaine Ortiz on “The Ring 6” show headlined by Stevenson-Lopez, but the assignment went to Davis, the newest entrant in the weight class.

Even if Stevenson is off the table, Hitchins shouldn’t have issues finding suitable challenges moving forward if he beats Duarte like he’s expected to as a plus-550 betting favorite.

“The 140-pound division has always been one of the best,” said Hitchins. “I feel that I am one of the best fighters in all of boxing, and the best guy at 140. The 140 division is hot.

“After this fight, we're only chasing the biggest and best fights only. We'll definitely try to get a unification fight or any of the best guys in and around my weight class.”