Madison Square Garden's Theater shook like a subway tunnel Saturday night after Brooklyn's Richardson Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) buried a left hook into George Kambosos Jnr's ribs at 2:11 of round eight of their fight to bring the action to a close. The knockout ended Hitchins' run of four consecutive decision wins, and sent the New-York audience into a stampeding frenzy as the city celebrated its only reigning world champion.
Hitchins - who was sitting in the cheap seats when Kambosos upset Teófimo Lopez in the same building three years ago - said the replay had been stuck in his brain ever since. Watching Devin Haney beat Kambosos over a two-fight decision stretch, the Crown Heights switch-hitter adopted a version of that template by mixing high-guard patience with wicked body work. By round seven, the toll was on Kambosos' face; by the eighth, Hitchins landed a blindside hook to the liver that left the former unified lightweight king on one knee, anchored, and unable to beat the count.
Watch the post fight interview: Watch
Promoter Eddie Hearn called it "the statement he needed," to pursue higher ticket names. Hitchins a moment later obliged, rabbiting off an expletive-laden ringside challenge to Devin Haney, whose father Bill had false-started throughout the fight week for rabid behavior. Haney responded via social media: "We could get it at 147" which means he would meet the IBF champion upstairs.
If Haney heads another direction, Hitchins has a Plan B to pursue: WBO beltholder Teofimo Lopez Jnr, who Hitchins brandished a “bozo" for missing the opportunity to fight Haney for a mega-fight. The cycle can only elevate from present tense of free-agency from now and fresh knockout ethos behind him, and Hitchins insists he will pursue either path that will yield access to a second belt most quickly - or get paid the most. Either way, after he obliterated Kambosos, boxing's newest headliner from New York has swung the door opened wide enough for boxing's biggest names to stride through.
Who is better for Hitchins to pick? Haney or Teo?
Get to know more about Richardson Hitchins.
Image Credit: Matchroom