George Kambosos Jr. will challenge IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins for his belt on June 14th at Madison Square Garden in the theater in New York City.
Another Chance
It’s a quick title shot for ‘The Emperor’ Kambosos (22-3, 10 KOs) after winning his debut at 140 last month, beating replacement opponent Jake Wyllie by an unimpressive 12-round unanimous decision on March 22nd.
Kambosos, 31, looked terrible, laboring to bear the non-ranked Wyllie by a closer-than-expected decision. Last year on May 12th, George was knocked out in the 11th round by Vasily Lomachenko in a failed bid to capture the vacant IBF lightweight title. Now, Kambosos is getting another chance. Some people get all the opportunities.
The Ring reports that Hitchins will defend against the former three-belt lightweight champion Kambosos Jr. next. It’s a fight that the Matchroom-promoted Hitchins, 27, has been asking for because it’s the best he can get.
None of the top names at 140 want to fight Richardson because his fighting style combines a vintage Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shakur Stevenson.
He has those elements but with the power of a welterweight. Hitchins can do it all, but he lacks the popularity to lure fighters to want to take the risk of fighting him. As such, he’s stuck with Kambosos.
Emperor’s Ambition
It’s going to be nearly impossible for Kambosos to win this fight without getting lucky with a KO punch. Hitchins is too skilled and almost impossible to hit. All George has ever been is a one-hit wonder who got lucky once with an upset win over an unmotivated, ring-rusty, injured Teofimo Lopez four years ago in 2021.
Kambosos transmuted the victory into a fortune, making millions and now still getting opportunities given to him years later. It shows you the importance of what one win can do for a fighter’s career and livelihood.
It’s hard to understand how Kambosos Jr. keeps getting opportunities for big fights with excellent paydays after losing his unified lightweight title by a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision to Devin Haney in their first fight on June 5, 2022. Since then, Kambosos Jr. has gotten a rematch with Devin and headline gigs against Maxi Hughes and Vasily Lomachenko.
Last Updated on 04/07/2025
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