Hard-hitting lightweight boxer Oscar Duarte is set to make the walk to the squared circle once again as he faces reigning IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins on the undercard of Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia, later this weekend (Feb. 21) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
While a KO loss to Garcia in 2023 crippled his momentum, he has since racked up a four-fight win streak, including two wins via KO. If Duarte manages to beat Hitchins on Saturday, he will claim a milestone Garcia has yet to achieve: a major boxing world title.
Duarte sports a fan-friendly style and consistently credits the traditional Mexican boxing approach he stays true to as the key to his victories.
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What is Oscar Duarte’s ethnicity?
According to his fighter profile on Golden Boy Promotions‘ website, Oscar Duarte is a native of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. Duarte proudly represents his Mexican heritage on social media and on his fight kits.
The fighter even credited the Mexican boxing style for the victory in his spectacular 2024 slugfest against Botirzhon Akhmedov. Speaking to Boxing King Media, Duarte said:
“The fans need to see top fights, and the Mexican style is a very good style for boxing, and I’m happy for this fight.”
Check out Oscar Duarte’s comments below (0:21):
Duarte first stepped into the boxing ring at 11 years of age, when his friends invited him to spar. The sport quickly became his calling. ‘La Migrana’ would then go on to win five state championships, five regional championships, and four national titles.
The 30-year-old turned pro in 2013, beating Manuel Isaias via first-round TKO. He would then rack up a 16-fight win streak before suffering his first loss via split decision to Adrian Estrella in their 2019 WBC Continental Americas clash.
‘La Migrana’, however, came back from his loss stronger than ever. He racked up an 11-fight win streak from 2019 to 2023, finishing each of his opponents. While he suffered a KO loss to Ryan Garcia in 2023, he is now on a four-fight win streak, even knocking out former world champion Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Diaz along the way.
According to OddsChecker, Duarte is a +333 underdog for his upcoming matchup, with his opponent, and reigning champion Richardson Hitchins listed as a -375 favorite
Edited by Ujwal Jain