He'll be back at the scene of his eighth-round stoppage win over George Kambosos last June on the Edgar Berlanga-Steven Butler undercard at New York's Infosys Theater, though circumstances are much different now.

He's heard all the noise about accusations dodging Oscar Duarte at the last-minute before their proposed February 22 clash.

No doubt motivated by former foe Liam Paro dethroning Lewis Crocker to win IBF honors, he doesn't need telling: the 147-pound division is open, doesn't have a peerless champion and several big fights beckon.

The 28-year-old verbally sparred others, including WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney and his mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis, believing he will become a two-division titlist before long.

Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) has been criticized for facing Mexico's Ricardo Salas (24-2-2, 18 KOs) in his Zuffa promotional debut, but wants to make up for lost time after an unexpectedly lengthy absence.

Having squeezed his 5-foot-9 frame down to 140 pounds for almost a decade now, the Brooklyn-born talent is enthused about the possibilities awaiting him. In conversation with The Ring's Rick Reeno, he's honest and well worth a listen.

Here, they discuss several topics including: