Hitchins KO's Kambosos in 8

Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) and George Kambosos Jr. (22-4, 10 KOs) headlined Matchroom Boxing’s card, from the Theater at Madison Square Garden live around the world on DAZN, for the IBF World Junior Welterweight Title. The Brooklyn native, Hitchins and Aussie, Kambosos entered the ring after a week of intense faceoffs and Hitchins controlled the fight from start-to-finish before landing a brutal body shot on Kambosos Jr. for an eighth round TKO to retain his IBF Junior Welterweight Title and unblemished record.

After feeling each other out in the first round in front of a raucous New York crowd, the two combatants settled in with Hitchins landing laser jabs while Kambosos Jr. pressed the body attack. Accurate and sharp punches from Hitchins began taking their toll in round three as Kambosos Jr. began to swell under the right eye. Hitchins confidence continued to grow as the fight progressed, working behind the jab and using his superior reach.

Hitchins brought the fireworks in the fifth round, landing a thunderous shot to the body that had Kambosos Jr. reeling. The sixth round saw Kambosos Jr. rally while Hitchins stuck to the game plan controlling the distance with his jab. By the eighth round, Hitchins looked to be in complete control, landing almost at will. Hitchins implored the Kambosos Jr. corner to stop the contest, before landing a thunderous body shot (video HERE) which put Kambosos Jr. on the canvas earning the Brooklyn native a stoppage victory.

After the fight, Hitchins said, “A few years ago, I was watching Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. go to war, and I was sitting on those stairs and I said when I get my opportunity, I’m going to make the best of it. With the help of Eddie Hearn and Keith Connelly, they changed my life in two years.”

“In terms of the fight itself, I’ve been telling the boxing world that I’m the truth. If you don’t know Richardson Hitchins, now you know. I’ve been telling the boxing world I’ve been coming. They should have listened and now I’m here.”

Matchroom Chairman, Eddie Hearn stated, “George is a warrior but that’s what you need if your Richardson, come out, step on the gas and dominate. Sometimes he would let that just coast for 12 rounds but he came out and dominated with a great performance.That is the statement he needed to mix with these guys. Great atmosphere, great performance from a great young American champion. Time for him to get the big fights.”

In the co-main event from the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Andy Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs) battled Hironori Mishiro (17-2-1 6 KOs) in an IBF Lightweight title eliminator. Cruz, a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, set the pace in the opening rounds with a varied attack while Mishiro gamely looked for counter punching opportunities. In the third round, Cruz opened up with power shots putting Mishiro on the canvas twice.

Mishiro showed urgency early in the fourth round stepping up the aggression, however, Cruz withstood the early aggression, retaking control of the fight before overpowering his opponent in the fifth when the referee called a halt to the fight (video HERE). Cruz is now the mandatory challenger for the IBF World Lightweight Title.

Following the victory, Cruz stated, “I want to say thank you as I’m really grateful for all the people who turned up, the true fans of boxing that have followed me throughout my career. This is just another step to achieve my main objective, which is to become a world champion.”

Unbeaten Australian Heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana (8-0, 8 KOs) kept his perfect record and knockout streak intact by overpowering Aleem Whitfield (9-1, 6 KOs) in the opening round (video HERE). Teremoana, in his U.S. debut, unleashed a combination of vicious power punches knocking out Whitfield in the first round.

Newark, N.J., representative Zaquin Moses (4-0, 3 KOs) opened the main card on DAZN against Carl Rogers (3-3) controlling the fight from the start with pinpoint accuracy, solid defense and timing. Moses stepped up the aggression in the fourth dropping Rogers twice en route to a TKO victory.

Indian Olympian and rising star Nishant Dev (2-0, 1 KO) entered the ring for the second time as a professional winning a dominant unanimous decision over a game Josue Silva (3-3, 1 KO). Dev set the pace, breaking down Silva over the six round distance.

Chatham, UK, native Adam Maca (1-0, 1 KO), kicked off the action with an impressive second round TKO of Rafael Castillo (2-7, 1 KO). Maca, making his pro-debut, showed no jitters acting as the aggressor from the opening bell until the time of the stoppage.