Richardson Hitchins left no doubt tonight in a successful defense of his IBF super lightweight title, stopping a very game George Kambosos Jr in the eighth round to retain his title.
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KO) was more aggressive than we’ve seen in the past, but worked economically and smartly, too, keeping the fight at a pace he wanted behind his terrific jab, but also wading inside a bit more, and avoiding slow starts we’ve seen from him in prior bouts.
Kambosos (22-4, 10 KO) gave this an honest, strong effort, but the class difference was clear from the first round. Hitchins also employed some strong body work, which ultimately paid off with the knockdown that ended the fight.
“I’ve been telling the boxing world I’m the truth. If you don’t know, now you know. They should have listened, now I’m here,” Hitchins said. “I smelled blood (on the body shots), and I wanted to keep punishing him. I told his dad, ‘If you love your son, you’ll stop the fight.’ He was tough, he was a true competitor, but I was just the better man tonight.”
Hitchins said he was definitely trying to make a statement tonight, and believes he can curb the perception that he’s a “boring” or cautious fighter.
“I knew I had to go to some unsafe places to get some good shots off, I put myself in harm’s way,” he said. “But I had good defense and knew I could take a punch. He caught me with a couple good shots but it didn’t really hurt me, so I just went for the kill. I always knew I had it in me, but the fights are so easy on the outside, where I don’t have to take a chance, but now I’m getting more comfortable as a professional.”
Post-fight, Teofimo Lopez, who holds the WBO title, made his way into the ring as Hitchins talked about going into free agency at the moment and looking for big fights. Hitchins then explicitly called out Devin Haney and his father Bill, with his insults toward them drawing approval from the New York crowd.
“He’s a hell of a fighter,” Kambosos said. “I chase greatness, man. I really believed in myself but I just didn’t have it, he was too good for me tonight. He hit me with a beautiful body shot. I still got up, but the ref has to do his job. The boxing world is going to talk a little but now, but I hope you guys appreciate the warrior that I am and I fought the best. It is what it is.”
Kambosos took nothing away from Hitchins at all, and added, “If all the boys fight each other, you’re gonna get wins, losses, draws, who gives a fuck, man? This is boxing. Fight the best, fuck the cherries.”
