Hitchins Knocks Out Kambosos and Retains World Title in New York

Richardson Hitchins Shows Superiority with KO over Kambosos Jr.

In a display of power in the ring, Richardson Hitchins retained his IBF super lightweight championship by knocking out George Kambosos Jr. in the eighth round. The fight took place at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City, where Hitchins made his superiority clear. The pre-fight build-up was marked by tension and verbal clashes between both boxers. However, Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) prevailed with a resounding knockout, sending Kambosos (22-4, 10 KOs) to the canvas with a precise body shot, seconds after asking his opponent’s corner to stop the fight. Hitchins, 27 years old, kept his promise to end the fight before the distance.

I’ve been telling the boxing world I was coming, and they should have listened. Now I’m here.

Richardson Hitchins

Kambosos Jr., 32 years old, was looking to become a two-division champion. However, his performance was surpassed by Hitchins’ speed and precision. According to CompuBox, Hitchins connected 205 of 398 punches (52%), while Kambosos only managed to connect 57 of his 384 attempts (15%). Kambosos tried to close the distance from the start, but Hitchins, taking advantage of his reach advantage, controlled the fight with his jab and his right hand. After two rounds, Kambosos was already showing signs of the punishment, with swelling under his right eye. Hitchins took advantage of his rival’s frustration, connecting effective combinations. In the fifth round, Hitchins hurt Kambosos with a body shot, and from that moment, victory seemed inevitable. In the eighth round, Hitchins capitalized on the situation.

I smelled blood in the water. I knew I had to go to dangerous places to connect good punches. I knew I had good defense and could take a punch. He didn’t hurt me, so I went to finish him off.

Richardson Hitchins

Hitchins began the eighth round with left hooks that found their target. Then, he went to Kambosos’ corner, asking them if they wanted to stop the fight before a body shot sent the Australian to the canvas definitively at minute 2:33. This was Hitchins’ first title defense after defeating Liam Paro in December, and his best performance to date. Following the victory, Hitchins announced that he would be a free agent and challenged former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney. However, WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo López entered the ring and requested a unification fight between the two. Hitchins has several options for his next title defense, but on this night, his performance in Brooklyn formally announced his arrival as one of the best boxers in the super lightweight division.