Richardson Hitchins troubled by Adrien Broner's Atlanta scene

Richardson Hitchins was disturbed by Adrien Broner’s appearance during Saturday night’s Claressa Shields versus Kaye Scott event in Atlanta. Broner, 37, has a 35-5-1 record with 24 knockouts and has not fought for more than two years.

DAZN footage showed Broner sitting backstage beside Ray J, leaning in his chair and struggling to keep his eyes open. The images were displayed on the screen inside State Farm Arena before circulating widely online.

Hitchins responded on X, saying the scene was especially difficult for him to see because Broner had appeared to be making progress before falling back into troubling behaviour. Their connection goes beyond boxing: Broner was an older-brother figure to Hitchins, who later became the IBF light-welterweight champion.

The latest incident came after Broner was hospitalised with pancreatitis. His history with alcohol has also been a concern, adding to Hitchins’ unease about the direction of his former mentor. Broner’s recent medical scare has made the condition shown in Atlanta more serious than an isolated public appearance.

Broner’s last bout was a 10-round unanimous-decision defeat by Blair Cobbs on June 7, 2024. Cobbs dropped him in the second round, while Broner struggled to impose himself in a contest that offered an opportunity to strengthen his comeback claims. He would also need to make a significant physical transformation before beginning a demanding training camp, having moved far from the leaner shape associated with his prime.

A return through low-level tune-up fights would bring limited financial appeal, despite Broner’s continued name value. A major-money bout could provide a different incentive, but Hitchins’ reaction points to a more immediate concern: Broner’s wellbeing outside the ring should take priority over planning another comeback.