On June 14th Brooklyn-born undefeated IBF Jr. Welterweight world champion Richardson Hitchins returned to New York City for his first title defense as the headliner of a card at The Theater inside of Madison Square Garden. For a fighter in Hitchens, who won the IBF world championship in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division with a twelve round split decision over Liam Paro in December of last year, to make his first title defense inside of Madison Square Garden alone was a motivator. To be in the headline position, however, a solid performance in the theater inside of Madison Square Garden, which in itself is a historic Boxing venue, would be an obvious step towards eventually headlining in the Garden’s main arena.
Hitchins’ opponent also offered a dynamic of youth versus experience in the form of former two-time Lightweight world champion George Kambosos, who was no stranger to Madison Square Garden's theater having become Undisputed Lightweight champion of the world by decisioning Teofimo Lopez in the same ring in which this fight would take place in November 2021. Despite having a brief reign as undisputed Lightweight champion and then winning the IBO Lightweight world championship down the road in his career, much as was the case leading up to the Lopez bout, Kambosos was viewed as a significant underdog going against a young and unbeaten world champion.
Unlike Kambosos’ major accomplishment in dethroning Lopez, there would be no dramatic moments that would tip the scales in the challenger’s favor. For the champion Richardson Hitchins put on a performance that can be summed up in one word, “Dominant."
From the opening bell, the champion used his height, reach, ability to use angles, and hand speed to keep Kambosos from being able to have any sustainable success beyond landing an occasional single punch. As the fight went on, the effects of the punishment dished out by the champion began to show on the former two-time world champion who gradually had all the visual signs of a fighter that though determined, had no answers and was taking a beating to the body and head.
It would be Hitchins’ ability to change levels and make the body a focal point for his offense that would ultimately bring an end to this fight as a flush left hook to the body forced Kambosos to crumble to the canvas in the eighth round. The always “Game" Kambosos showed his mettle by trying to get up and to his credit, did seem to beat the count at the count of nine, but was in no condition to continue and the fight was promptly stopped.
If you were to draw up an ideal scenario for Richardson Hitchins in his first title defense and his first time as a main event in Madison Square Garden, you would be hard pressed to find one that would be better or one that was executed as perfectly as this performance was for the champion. In simple terms, Hitchins simply took his time and broke down a very " Game” opponent in George Kambosos. What might the future hold for this 27 year old champion who might just be entering his athletic prime? It is at times too easy to anoint a fighter as the next superstar in the sport after a performance like this where there were no flaws and a fight plan was carried out perfectly with almost surgical precision, but Hitchins does have star quality both in his skillset and the way he conducts himself and if he continues to produce these types of performances going forward, the label of "Superstar” will indeed be appropriate.
“And That's The Boxing Truth."
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