Stanionis Says Zuffa Boxing Went Quiet After He Accepted Hitchins Fight

Eimantas Stanionis says he accepted a fight offer from Zuffa Boxing to face Richardson Hitchins but never heard back.

The former WBA welterweight champion told The Ring that Zuffa approached him about facing Hitchins earlier this year. "I said 'yes' immediately," Stanionis said, per The Ring. "I didn't try to negotiate or anything. I said 'yes' but I didn't hear back from them. They all just went quiet."

Hitchins signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa in April and made his promotional debut July 26 against Ricardo Salas in New York, winning every round on all three cards. The Lithuanian challenger returns to the ring Saturday night against Kaine Fourie at Zalgirio Arena in his hometown of Kaunas.

If he wins, Stanionis plans to pursue Hitchins again. The Ring's No. 6-ranked welterweight is not impressed with Hitchins, who sits 21-0 with eight knockouts. "He's a good boxer, but he's nothing I haven't seen before," Stanionis told the outlet. "He has good protection from his promoters and managers."

Stanionis holds a 16-1 record with nine knockouts. His next opportunity to fight Hitchins depends on getting past Fourie on Saturday in Lithuania.