Richardson Hitchins’ New York homecoming was a successful one as he defended his IBF super lightweight title with a dominant eighth-round stoppage victory over George Kambosos at the Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater.
The Brooklyn native was clinical and composed throughout as he outpunched and eventually overpowered the former unified lightweight world champion.
As expected, Hitchins’ jab was a factor but it was two left hands to the Australian’s body, one in the fifth round and another in the eighth, which did the most significant damage and ultimately ended the bout.
MORE: Aussie heavyweight beast destroys undefeated opponent in latest first-round KO
The fight saw Kambosos return to the site of his career-defining victory over Teofimo Lopez, but the Sydneysider, who turned 32 on fight day, couldn't repeat the dose.
“I was watching Teofimo [Lopez] and George Kambosos go to war in this ring and I was sitting somewhere up there and I said, ‘When I get my opportunity, I would make the best of it,” Hitchins said after the fight.
“I’ve been telling the boxing world that I was coming and they should have listened, so now I’m here.”
Shortly before the finish, Hitchins, now 20-0, could be seen calling on Kambosos' corner to stop the fight.
“I smelled blood but I just wanted to keep punishing him. I told his dad, ‘If you love your son, you’ll stop the fight,’” the 27-year-old said.
“He was tough, he was a true competitor but I was just the better man tonight.”
Hitchins finished by calling Devin Haney out for a fight.
“F--- Devin Haney and Bill Haney, p---ies,” he added.
Kambosos, who slips to 22-4, acknowledged the performance of Hitchins.
“I really believed in myself but I just didn’t have the timing, he was a little bit too good for me tonight,” Kambosos said.
“I hope your guys appreciate the warrior I am and that I fight the best. It is what it is.
“I’ve had two fights in three months… I’ve been fighting the best.
“Right now, I’m going to coach my son’s footy team, that’s what I want to do.”
In the chief support, Cuba’s Andy Cruz put himself in the box seat for a shot at the IBF lightweight strap with a clinical fifth-round TKO victory over Hironori Mishori.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist was in the zone against a brave but outclassed Japanese opponent, dropping his man twice in the third before forcing the stoppage a couple of rounds later amid a barrage of accurate shots.
Cruz, who landed 47 per cent of his power punches, is now 6-0 as a professional and the mandatory challenger to Raymond Muratalla’s title.
Earlier, rising heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana saw his run of first-round knockout victories extended to five fights with a demolition job on the previously undefeated Aleem Whitfield.
The towering Australian slumped Whitfield with a combination in the final minute of the opener, moving him to 8-0 and prompting co-promoter Eddie Hearn to declare the 27-year-old a “future world heavyweight champion.”
Catch up on all the results below:
Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos result and highlights
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
| Hitchins | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||
| Kambosos | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Round 8: Hitchins thunders a pair of left hooks into Kambosos' head. Hitchins talking to Kambosos' corner, asking them to stop the fight. Kambosos goes down after a left rip to the body. He climbs to his feet but the fight is waved off.
Round 7: Double jab lands for Hitchins. Kambosos eats a right over the top. Hitchins back to fighting at longer range. Hitchins doubles on the left hook. A strong finish by Hitchins with a combination and a right hand shortly after.
Round 6: Kambosos' right eye is beat up to start the sixth. Hitchins is popping Kambosos' head now. Kambosos loads up on an overhand right to the guard. Kambosos lands a right hand but slips over in the process. Kambosos' best round of the fight so far as some blood comes from Hitchins' mouth. A close round but hard not to give it to the champion who was consistently scoring with jabs.
Round 5: Two jabs hit the mark for Hitchins. They clinch for the first time. Hitchins hurts Kambosos to the body with a left hand as Hitchins goes for the kill. Kambosos calls him on. The Aussie has seemingly recovered but he was in trouble.
Round 4: Hitchins finds the chin with a chopping right. Kambosos drives a rear hand into the mid-section, and another shortly after. Kambosos head rocks back following a jab. Hitchins looking to add a few punches into the arsenal here, left hooks and longer right hands. The right hand is finding the target for the champion now.
Round 3: More action at a comfortable range for Hitchins. Kambosos pushes his man back with a 1-2. Hitchins lands one of his own and then a right hand to the temple. The jab is money for the champ, short and long. Kambosos looking to counter to the body but Hitchins unbothered for now. A left hook, straight right rounds out the round nicely for Hitchins.
Round 2: Kambosos looks to jab to the body. Hitchins times a counter. The jab again on the money for the New Yorker. Hitchins waiting on the straight right counter. Kambosos with some damage under the right eye. A nice left hook on the bell lands for Hitchins.
Round 1: Hitchins opens up with the jab. Kambosos goes to the body then misses with a left hook. A 1-2 lands for the champion. A left upstairs hits the target from Kambosos. A close round, neither guy showing their hand too much but Hitchins the more active fighter behind the jab.
10:46 p.m. ET: Hitchins has made his walkout, moments away now.
Follow along with our round-by-round updates and unofficial scorecard.
10:43 p.m. ET: Kambosos is in the ring and ready to go.
10:25 p.m. ET: The undercard is complete, Hitchins and Kambosos are up next!
Hitchins vs. Kambosos full card results
- Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos for the IBF super lightweight title
- Andy Cruz def. Hironori Mishiro via TKO5
- Teremoana Teremoana def. Aleem Whitfield via TKO1
- Zaquin Moses def. Carl Rogers via TKO4
- Nishant Dev def. Josue Silva via UD6 (60-54 x3)
- Adam Maca def. Rafael Castillo via TKO2
Hitchins vs. Kambosos tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, June 14
- Prelims: 7:15 p.m ET | 4:15 p.m. PT | 12:15 a.m. BST | 9:15 a.m. AEST*
- Main card: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT | 1:30 a.m. BST | 10:30 a.m. AEST*
- Main event start time (approx.): 11:00 p.m ET | 8:00 p.m. PT | 4:00 a.m. BST | 1:00 p.m. AEST*
- Location: Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater - New York
- Live Stream: DAZN | Kayo Sports PPV
*Sunday, June 15
Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. will be available on DAZN.
A DAZN monthly subscription is $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month. The annual subscription is $224.99.
In Australia, the fight is also available on Foxtel's Main Event, which requires a subscription. The cost of the fight on Kayo Sports is $49.95.