The 140-pound contender will get his first world title shot when he faces IBF champion Richardson Hitchins on Saturday on the undercard of “The Ring: High Stakes” at T-Mobile Arena on DAZN PPV.

“This is the fight of my dreams since I started boxing 20 years ago,” Duarte told The Ring with his trainer, Robert Garcia, translating. “I’ve always had the dream of becoming a world champion, and now it's right around the corner. … It’s going to be a great moment for myself. I want everybody to know who Oscar Duarte is.

"Those who know me already and those who don't are going to get to know me, because I'm going to fight with honor to represent Mexico.”

The card is headlined by Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) defending his WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). The card also features another 140-pound world title fight between WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) and Andy Hiraoka (24-0, 19 KOs).

Duarte (30-2-1, 23 KOs) enters the clash on a four-fight win streak since losing by eighth-round knockout to Garcia in 2023. After the loss, the Mexican moved to the U.S. to work with world-renowned trainer Robert Garcia.

The change in coach and joining a gym that boasts some of boxing’s top talent, including unified 115-pound champion Jesse Rodriguez, IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla and Vergil Ortiz, among others, has helped Duarte change the trajectory of his career.

“Getting [into] that gym with all that knowledge and experience with world champions around makes a big difference, not only physically, but also mentally,” Duarte said.

Duarte defeated Kenneth Sims Jr. by majority decision in his last fight. Sims' stick-and-move style is similar to that of Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs).

Duarte believes the 12 rounds against Sims served him well in his preparation for Hitchins.

“It’s going to help very much that our last fight was against Sims,” Duarte said. “With that preparation I had, this fight I'm in way better condition, [and I] prepared myself way better for this world title fight.”