One day after IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins announced he had signed a promotional agreement with Zuffa Boxing, the IBF ordered a purse bid for Hitchins' mandatory defense against undefeated Lindolfo Delgado. Hitchins' last fight was back in June when he stopped former lightweight world champion George Kambosos, so his mandatory defense is due under IBF rules. But these dealings should generate close scrutiny given the developing feud between the IBF and Zuffa. Hitchins is the second reigning champion to sign with Zuffa, following now-former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Optetaia. Shortly after Opetaia signed with Zuffa, the IBF stripped him of his championship title over a dispute between the IBF and Zuffa,  even though Opetaia had not done anything wrong. 

 

Prior to Hitchins signing with Zuffa, on February 23rd, the IBF had already ordered him to begin negotiating with Delgado. An agreement wasreached within the timeframe set forth by the IBF, so the sanctioning body has scheduled a purse bid for April 21st.