--- title: "Hitchins to Davis: Stop DMing, Send the Contract" description: "IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins sets the terms for a potential blockbuster with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis—no more Instagram messages, just a signed deal." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/richardson-hitchins-says-gervonta-davis-has-been-dming-him-408136e2 published: 2026-07-03T02:55:34.006+00:00 updated: 2026-07-03T02:55:34.006+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["boxing"] --- # Hitchins to Davis: Stop DMing, Send the Contract > IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins sets the terms for a potential blockbuster with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis—no more Instagram messages, just a signed deal. IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins has drawn a hard line with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis: stop sliding into his DMs and start sending a contract. Hitchins, 22-0 (7 KOs), took to social media to call out Davis, 29-0 (27 KOs), for Instagram messages about a potential showdown. The exchange escalated after Davis posted a story on August 12 showing a ring with the caption “Who’s next?”—widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Hitchins. The IBF champion responded publicly: “Send me a contract.” The two undefeated American stars have never fought at 140 lbs, and a unification bout would headline a major pay-per-view. Davis holds the WBA super lightweight title, while Hitchins is the IBF’s recognized champion at 140 lbs. Promoters and networks have long eyed the pairing, but contract talks have stalled amid competing interests and Davis’s preference for high-profile exhibitions. Hitchins, who has defended his IBF belt twice since winning it in 2023, insists he’s serious about unifying the division. “I’m not playing games,” he told Boxing News 24. “If you want to fight, put it on paper. I’m ready.” Davis has not publicly responded to the contract demand, but his social media activity suggests he remains engaged in the conversation. The power dynamics at play here are textbook boxing chess. Davis, with his 27-knockout résumé and global brand, can afford to let the DMs linger as marketing—each Instagram story fuels engagement without the binding commitment of a contract. Hitchins, meanwhile, is still building his legacy. His demand isn’t just procedural; it’s a statement of intent. By forcing Davis to formalize the process, he’s signaling that he won’t be a stepping stone in Davis’s exhibition-heavy calendar. The IBF belt is his leverage, and he’s wielding it precisely because Davis’s WBA title is the more lucrative but less regulated path to big money. This standoff also reveals the fractures in modern fight promotion. Traditional sanctioning bodies like the IBF require ironclad contracts for unification fights, but Davis’s camp has historically prioritized flexibility. Exhibitions with Garcia and Floyd Mayweather Jr. proved Davis can monetize his star power without the grind of camp life. Hitchins’s ultimatum forces Davis’s team to choose: lean into the spectacle of social media teasers or commit to the grind of a real title fight. Fans are caught in the middle, hungry for a fight that might never materialize if Davis keeps hiding behind DMs. The IBF’s rules add another layer of pressure. Unlike the WBA, which allows voluntary defenses, the IBF mandates a fight every 18 months or risks stripping the champion. Hitchins’s contract demand aligns with the IBF’s strict timeline, putting Davis’s camp on notice. If Davis declines, Hitchins could be forced into a mandatory defense against a lower-tier contender, diluting the division’s top tier. Conversely, if Davis signs, he’d face the most grueling camp of his career—12 weeks of sparring, media obligations, and weight-cut drama—all for a purse that, while substantial, pales next to his exhibition paydays. The financial stakes are equally stark. A Hitchins-Davis unification would command a nine-figure pay-per-view, with estimates ranging from $120M to $150M depending on buys and international markets. But Davis’s exhibition deals with Garcia and Mayweather Jr. reportedly paid him $30M and $45M respectively, with minimal training and zero risk. For Davis, signing a contract means swapping easy money for high-stakes competition—a gamble his team may not be willing to take. What’s next: Expect Davis’s team to either table a formal offer or retreat from public signaling. If a contract lands in Hitchins’s hands, expect immediate press conferences and a fight announcement within weeks. If not, the DM saga will fade—and boxing fans will move on to the next rumor. ## Why this matters Hitchins and Davis represent two of boxing’s most bankable stars, and a unification fight at 140 lbs could reset the division’s landscape. The standoff over contract talks versus social media posturing underscores a growing divide in the sport: stars leverage engagement through fleeting online exchanges while real negotiations lag behind. A signed deal would signal a return to traditional fight-making; a collapse would reinforce the primacy of spectacle over substance in boxing’s modern era. The outcome will determine whether boxing’s future is built on fights or fleeting content. The IBF’s strict rules add urgency—Hitchins must fight or risk losing his belt, while Davis must decide if the financial and physical grind of a title fight outweighs the allure of exhibitions and social media clout. ## Frequently asked ### What titles do Richardson Hitchins and Gervonta Davis hold? Hitchins is the IBF light welterweight champion (140 lbs) with a 22-0 record. Davis holds the WBA super lightweight title (also 140 lbs) and is 29-0. ### Has either fighter commented on the contract demand? Hitchins publicly demanded a contract after Davis’s Instagram story. Davis has not responded directly, but his social media activity suggests continued engagement in the conversation. ### Could this fight happen without a contract? Unlikely. Hitchins has made it clear he won’t engage further without a signed agreement. Boxing’s sanctioning bodies require contracts for title unification bouts. ### What’s the timeline if a contract is signed? If a deal is reached, expect a press conference within days and a fight announcement within weeks, followed by a 6–8 month camp and a potential late-2025 or early-2026 pay-per-view. ### Why has Davis preferred exhibitions over traditional fights? Davis has headlined exhibitions (e.g., vs. Ryan Garcia in 2023) for higher purses and lower risk. Traditional title fights require more regulatory scrutiny and promotional commitments. ### What’s the significance of a Hitchins-Davis unification? Unifying the WBA and IBF light welterweight titles would crown the undisputed champion, boosting the division’s profile and likely commanding a nine-figure pay-per-view. ## Sources & Citations - [Richardson Hitchins Says Gervonta Davis Has Been DMing Him: “Send Me a Contract”](https://www.boxingnews24.com/2026/07/richardson-hitchins-says-gervonta-davis-has-been-dming-him-send-me-a-contract/) — BoxingNews24 (2026-07-02) --- Cite: Hitchins to Davis: Stop DMing, Send the Contract. Sportopod, 2026-07-03. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/richardson-hitchins-says-gervonta-davis-has-been-dming-him-408136e2