Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos Jnr had to be separated during an otherwise obligatory photo shoot.
The defending IBF 140lbs titlist and former lineal lightweight champion carry on a war of words that began when they were first linked to this very matchup. Their fight week jumped off to a contentious start as both had plenty to say during their face-off from the observatory deck at the Empire State Building in New York City.
Hitchins-Kambosos will meet atop a DAZN show this Saturday from nearby Madison Square Garden’s The Theater.
Brooklyn’s Hitchins, (19-0, 7 KOs), will attempt his first title defense. The well-schooled boxer – who represented Haiti in the 2016 Rio Olympics – is supremely confident that the belt will remain in his possession.
“What does he do so good that he thinks I’ve never seen,” questioned Hitchins. “Is it the power, the activity, the pressure, the speed, the twitch? You don’t know what I do beast, I’m different. I’m just going to show him levels.
“You will feel me, it’s something different, when I hit you, you are going to feel it. You can’t outfight me. We can stand in the middle of the ring, you can’t outfight me. I promise you everything I love, we stand in the middle of the ring and bang, you can’t outfight me.”
Hitchins claimed the belt in a twelve-round decision victory over Sydney’s Liam Paro last December 7 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Saturday will mark his second straight fight versus a boxer from Australia.
That said, Kambosos, 22-3 (10 KOs) doesn’t feel like a visiting challenger, given his past success at MSG’s intimate basement venue.
“New York is a beautiful place for me, a beautiful city. I’m 2-0 there, ready to be 3-0,” vowed Kambosos. “I built my legacy here, beaten champion after champion here and I am coming again, number three, taking his belt.
“Yes, I’m an underdog, but I’ve got a huge fan base, and I love it here, I walk in and I smile.”
Kambosos owns decisions wins over Mickey Bey and Teofimo Lopez at this location. The latter came in November 2021, when Kambosos pulled off a massive upset to claim the lineal and unified lightweight crown.
The win was by far the high note, professionally, for Kambosos, who has since suffered three defeats in his past five fights. Hitchins is more determined to add to that history than he is impressed with his opponent’s local track record.
“He keeps trying to make the narrative like, this is his big homecoming, he’s got to show out, he’s got to do this,” noted Hitchins. “It doesn’t matter how we slice and dice it. He has been down to a body shot, been schooled and bruised up.
“I’ve never shown nothing like that. I’ve never been down to a body shot, I fought an Argentinian who had [ten] straight KOs (Gustavo Lemos).”
Kambosos isn’t buying it, just as he didn’t go for any of the pre-fight comments and promises made by Lopez more than three years ago.
“He’s going to run,” said Kambosos. “It’s his homecoming in front of 6,000 - make it special. Whatever way he brings it and whatever he wants to show his fans, it’s cool. I’ve prepared well for whatever he might bring.
“He’s motivated the shit out of me. After all I’ve done, all the belts I’ve won and the money I’ve made, people ask me ‘why are you still doing this? You’ve done it all, go and enjoy your life, your family, your kids’. I’ve done it all. The money I’ve made, he wouldn’t know what to do with it.”
UNDERCARD UPDATES
The supporting cast has taken on new shape since the card was first announced several weeks ago.
Andy Cruz and Hironori Mishiro were always slated to meet in an IBF 135lbs eliminator. The stakes are now raised, as the winner is guaranteed to next face recently elevated titlist Raymond Muratalla, who was advanced from interim titleholder upon the retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko.
As previously reported by BoxingScene, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado, 17-0 (16 KOs) will no longer face Jonathan Montrel. An injury forced Mercado – BoxingScene’s 2023 Prospect of the Year – off the card.
Matchroom Boxing confirmed that heavyweight prospect Alexis Barriere, 12-0 (10 KOs) was also removed from the lineup. The Canadian southpaw was due to return to the U.S. for the first time since his second pro fight, but was scratched from the show due to an undisclosed injury.
Meanwhile, another Aussie boxer has made his way to town.
Teremoana Jnr, 7-0 (7 KOs) was a late addition to the show after he was forced out of a June 8 fight in Broadbeach, Australia. As previously reported by BoxingScene, Teremoana – a 2024 Olympian for Australia – will now face upstate New York-based Aleem Whitfield, 9-0 (6 KOs), in a scheduled six-round contest.