Richardson Hitchins enters 2026 carrying a belt and a bigger target. The IBF light welterweight champion puts his title on the line against Oscar Duarte on February 21 in Las Vegas, his second title defense since winning the strap in December 2024. At 20–0, the record says perfect, but Hitchins’ story isn’t built on clean lines.
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It’s built on Crown Heights sidewalks, Haitian roots, and a kid who sold water bottles in the park with his mom to help keep the lights on. So, without further ado, let’s dive into his origins, background, and learn more about the man behind the gloves!
What is Richardson Hitchin’s ethnicity and nationality?
Richardson Hitchins is American by nationality. He was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and still lives and trains there with longtime coach Lenny Wilson. But culturally, Hitchins ties himself closely to Haiti through both parents.
“I think I’m real connected. I mean, I came from a Haitian household, my mom, my dad,” he revealed in a 2024 interview with Broadway Joel. “So yeah, I guess I’m connected. I’ve been to Haiti once when I was six. I fought for the Olympics in Haiti, so yeah, like I said, I grew up in a Caribbean type of atmosphere with different Haitians and sh— like that.”
He added that he’s visited Haiti too when he was six, and later represented the country on the international stage when he fought for Haiti at Olympic qualifiers.
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After failing to make Team USA, Hitchins chose to compete for his parents’ country. He earned silver at the 2016 Olympic qualifiers to book a ticket to Rio. The result there, a first-round loss to Gary Antuanne Russell, stung, but the choice itself says something about where his heart sits. He could have walked away. Instead, he leaned into his roots and kept moving.
Language is part of that connection, too. When asked if he speaks Creole in the interview with Broadway Joel, Richardson Hitchins said that he does, although he’s gotten rusty since moving out of his mom’s household.
He admitted he sometimes mixes English in when he’s frustrated, especially when arguing with his mom, but the point lands: this isn’t a surface-level connection. Now, let’s shift the spotlight over to his faith.
Is Richardson Hitchins Christian?
Richardson Hitchins hasn’t publicly labeled his religion, and there’s no official statement about a specific faith. But his own words point to how he frames belief and purpose. In a February 6, 2025, Instagram post, Hitchins wrote about trusting what he called “the god given talent god has given me.”
The post isn’t a religious declaration in the traditional sense. It’s more a statement of faith in self, work ethic, and purpose. And Hitchins frames belief as fuel. His unbeaten record and IBF title suggest elite talent, but the backstory explains the edge. Talent gets you noticed. But it’s belief and identity that keep you standing when the rounds get long, and the road to victory looks tough.