MORENO VALLEY, California – Riding an impressive four-fight winning streak, Mexico’s Oscar Duarte told BoxingScene Wednesday that he expects to sign to fight against IBF 140lbs champion Richardson Hitchins as soon as this week.

The effort is to place Duarte, 30-2-1 (23 KOs), versus New York’s Hitchins, 20-0 (8KOs), on the February 21 card in Las Vegas headlined by WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios against Ryan Garcia.

Since being knocked out by Garcia in the eighth round of their December 2023 fight, Duarte has defeated former featherweight champion Joseph Diaz Jnr and two-time 140lbs title challenger Batyr Akhmedov, and then won two of his own main events last year versus Miguel Madueno in Anaheim and Kenneth Sims Jnr in Chicago.

“I want this fight because I want to be a world champion,” Duarte told BoxingScene at his trainer’s Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, where he began training in December.

“This is my opportunity, and I’m very happy for it.”

When Hitchins, 28, was asked in November whom he expected to make his second title defense against after winning the belt from Australia's Liam Paro in December 2024 and defending it against former champion George Kambosos Jnr in June, he paused as his three fellow champions were all signed or in negotiations for fights.

By turning to the personable and third-ranked Duarte, Hitchins meets a 29-year-old who is also ranked fourth by the WBO and WBA and 10th by the WBC.

“He’s a good fighter, but I feel this is my moment, and I’m ready to win this fight,” Duarte said. “I’ve been focusing for a long time on being a world champion.”

Duarte said he saw a video interview with Hitchins during which the champion praised him as a strong Mexican fighter, setting things in motion for negotiation.

Duarte said he’s in contact with promoter Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, and is hopeful the contracts will be finalized shortly.

Ironically, Hitchins is represented by Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, whom De La Hoya has criticized this week for not responding to his offer for a 60/40 percent purse split favoring his fighter Vergil Ortiz Jnr against Hearn’s fellow unbeaten 154lbs contender Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Duarte displayed no concerns over the friction.

“I want that strap,” he said, smiling.