IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) and super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs) have signed multi-fight promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing. ESPN Both fighters are expected to make their promotional debuts this summer. Yahoo Sports
Both fighters are managed by Keith Connolly, who also brokered Conor Benn’s move from Matchroom to Zuffa earlier this year. Boxing Insider
“This is a major step forward in my career,” Hitchins said in a statement. “With Zuffa Boxing in my corner, I’m going to show the world that I am a pound-for-pound, generational fighter.”
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Hitchins captured his first world title in 2024 with a victory over then-unbeaten Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. Before turning pro, he represented Haiti in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Sky Sports His most recent outing was a dominant eighth-round stoppage of George Kambosos Jr. last June. ESPN
Zuffa recognizes eight weight classes and the 140-pound division isn’t among them, meaning Hitchins will likely need to vacate his IBF belt and move up to welterweight. The Ring Hitchins is also on the clock to defend his title against mandatory challenger Lindolfo Delgado, leaving Zuffa to either negotiate with Top Rank or risk a purse bid. Bad Left Hook
Berlanga, meanwhile, arrives as a free agent. He has not fought since a fifth-round stoppage loss to Hamzah Sheeraz in July 2025, a result that followed his decision defeat to Canelo Alvarez the previous September. Boxing Insider The 28-year-old Brooklyn native said Zuffa is “changing the game” and called the move the start of “a special journey.”
Zuffa’s language about reclaiming contender status signals the promotion intends to build Berlanga back through activity rather than throw him immediately into another world-level fight. Boxing Insider
Both fighters will appear at a live Q&A with Zuffa Boxing’s Max Kellerman ahead of the UFC 327 weigh-ins at the Kaseya Center in Miami at 4 PM ET on Friday, April 10. The Ring
