Brooklyn Man Rises from Selling Water Bottles to Becoming Boxing World Champion

Richardson Hitchins overcame a troubled childhood to find success in the boxing ring.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Richardson Hitchins, a New Yorker from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, escaped a difficult upbringing by finding refuge in the boxing gym. As a child, Hitchins would sell water bottles on the street to help provide for his family, but his passion for the sport of boxing kept him out of trouble. After witnessing violence and crime on the streets, Hitchins dedicated himself to the sport, eventually becoming a world champion boxer.

Why it matters

Hitchins' story is an inspiring example of how sports can provide a positive outlet and pathway to success for young people facing challenging circumstances. His journey from selling water bottles on the streets to becoming a world champion boxer highlights the transformative power of dedication, hard work, and perseverance.

The details

Hitchins, who is now preparing to defend his IBF super-lightweight title, credits boxing with keeping him out of trouble as a youth. He would spend hours at the gym, honing his skills and avoiding the violence he witnessed on the streets of Brooklyn. When he wasn't boxing, Hitchins would sell water bottles out of an ice-cold bucket to help provide for his mother. Hitchins learned the value of money at a young age, a lesson that has served him well as he navigates the financial challenges that often come with a professional boxing career.

  • Hitchins won the IBF super-lightweight title in December 2025.
  • Hitchins defended his title for the first time in June 2026.
  • Hitchins is set to defend his title again on February 19, 2026.

The players

Richardson Hitchins

A professional boxer from Brooklyn, New York who overcame a difficult childhood to become a world champion.

Jolia

Hitchins' mother, for whom he would sell water bottles on the streets to help provide for the family.

Adrien Broner

A four-weight world champion boxer who served as a mentor to Hitchins, but also demonstrated the dangers of reckless spending and partying.

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What they’re saying

“I got into boxing because I used to fight a lot in the streets. And I was just always infatuated with fighting, fighting movies, friends that knew how to fight, people that knew how to fight.”

— Richardson Hitchins (the-sun.com)

“I skipped a lot of things being in the gym from 3pm For a couple hours. I would say, I'd go to the gym from anywhere from 3-4pm, leave the gym at 7:30-8 at night.”

— Richardson Hitchins (the-sun.com)

“Being around him definitely was a wake up call. He definitely showed me a fun time being around him and everything. It was a lesson learned to show that everything, having fun at the moment, it's cool but in life you get what you give in.”

— Richardson Hitchins (the-sun.com)

What’s next

Hitchins is set to defend his IBF super-lightweight title against Oscar Duarte on the undercard of Ryan Garcia's WBC welterweight world title fight against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas on February 19, 2026.

The takeaway

Richardson Hitchins' journey from selling water bottles on the streets of Brooklyn to becoming a world champion boxer is a powerful testament to the transformative power of sports and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. His story serves as an inspiration to young people facing similar challenges, showing that with dedication and hard work, it is possible to overcome even the most difficult circumstances.