RICHARDSON Hitchins produced arguably a career-best performance, far more assertive than many of his previous displays, to secure a punishing eighth-round stoppage victory over George Kambosos Jr.
The IBF world super-lightweight champion retained his title, and extended his unblemished record, at the Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, earlier this morning.
Moments after orchestrating a one-sided beatdown, the Brooklyn-born technician then called out Devin Haney while, at the same time, revealing that he is now a promotional free agent.
“Devin Haney, f*** you n****, let’s fight,” Hitchins, 20-0 (8 KOs), said in his post-fight interview. “[I want] Devin Haney next. F*** Devin Haney and Bill Haney, p***ies.”
Regarding the fight itself, it was a typically measured start from Hitchins, who pumped out his long jab, while also following it up with the odd right hand here and there, in a convincing opening round.
A greater degree of variety then saw the slickster introduce a series of left hooks, with one of which opening a small cut below Kambosos’ right eye in only the second round.
Through the next six minutes, the Australian began to feel the full force of his opponent’s right hand, a shot so sharp it could slice through a slab of steel.
Naturally, Kambosos’ corner then begged him to get more creative, or at least start to move his feet out of range – rather than allowing his head to get pinged in the pocket – at the end of the fourth round.
A greater sense of urgency only presented Hitchins with the opportunity to land a sickening left hand to the body, though, and while the shot produced a wincing reaction, the champion ultimately failed to get his man out of there.
Following that punishing frame, Teofimo Lopez offered a nugget of advice – ‘move your f***ing head’ – to his former rival in a brief interview on DAZN.
And although the WBO world super-lightweight champion is not exactly known for his logic, it must be said that, this time around, he had a perfectly valid point.
The next two rounds then told a similar story, before Hitchins landed another expertly-delivered left hook to the body, forceful enough to send Kambosos, 22-4 (10 KOs), to the canvas.
And despite clambering back to his feet, the former lightweight king was swiftly confronted by a wave from referee Michael Griffin soon after, cementing Hitchins’ emphatic victory.
