Oscar Duarte has made it clear he wants a world title fight next, even if it means moving up in weight for a rematch with Ryan Garcia.
Duarte was set to challenge Richardson Hitchins for the IBF 140lbs title last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but the fight was canceled after Hitchins fell ill on the morning of the bout. Instead of competing on the card, Duarte watched from ringside as Garcia captured the WBC 147lbs title with a victory over Mario Barrios.
“Right now, I am fit at 140 pounds. But … I want the world title,” Duarte said. “For me, it’s no problem for me to go to 147, because I want a fight with Ryan Garcia. I want that rematch.” Previously, Garcia stopped Duarte in the eighth round of their December 2023 clash in Houston.
Duarte believes Garcia has improved since their first meeting. “Ryan Garcia at this moment is a better fighter and a better person than he was previously,” Duarte said. “I’m happy for him. He’s a world champion, he seems like he changed, and I am getting a better version of Ryan if we can fight.”
Since that loss, Duarte has won four straight under the guidance of trainer Robert Garcia, earning victories over Joseph “JoJo” Diaz, Batyr Akhmedov, Miguel Madueno and Kenneth Sims Jnr. Now, with Hitchins ordered to face Lindolfo Delgado, Duarte hopes his next opportunity comes against one of boxing’s newest champions. “I feel great, I really feel like a world champion right now,” Duarte said. “We know that Richardson Hitchins won’t fight me, so I hope Ryan Garcia will.”
Image Credit: Sky Sports