Hitchins wrote on X: “You not allowed in New York This summer!”

Haney quickly brushed off the remark.

“I’ll be there next week, lol,” Haney replied.

The social media exchange comes as Hitchins looks to get his career back on track following a year of inactivity and a series of unexpected developments outside the ring.

Like Keyshawn Davis at welterweight, Hitchins has shown interest in getting a high-profile fight against Haney, one of the sport’s biggest names. However, questions remain about whether the Brooklyn native has done enough recently to justify that opportunity.

Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) has not fought since stopping George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round of their June 2025 bout. Moments after that victory, Hitchins surprised promoter Eddie Hearn by announcing inside the ring that he had become a free agent.

A scheduled fight against Oscar Duarte on February 21, 2026, later fell apart when Hitchins withdrew on the day of the event. He subsequently vacated his IBF light welterweight title rather than move forward with a mandatory defense against Lindolfo Delgado.

Now signed with Zuffa Boxing, Hitchins is set to return against Ricardo Salas on July 26 at the Paramount+ Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His exchange with Haney generated attention online, but it remains unclear what role Zuffa envisions for the unbeaten former champion moving forward.

As for Haney, his immediate future remains tied to larger fights at welterweight. The WBO has already ordered him to defend his title against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis, while Team Haney continues to pursue a potential bout with Shakur Stevenson at 144 pounds.