The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York is the scene for world championship boxing this Saturday evening, as Richardson Hitchins makes a first defence of his IBF super lightweight title against former unified world lightweight champion, George Kambosos Jr.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom promote Hitchins vs Kambosos Jr and DAZN televise live worldwide.
Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) is a gifted technician, and has slowly built his way into world title contention.
Wide points wins in 2023 over John Bauza and Jose Zepeda bumped the Brooklyn man up the IBF world rankings, and he overcame the tough Gustavo Lemos in an eliminator to earn his shot at the title.
That came last December in Puerto Rico, and the 27-year-old was crowned in a split decision win over Liam Paro which didn’t tell the full story as he deservedly became world champion.
Kambosos (22-3, 10 KOs) is making his first true step-up to the 140 division.
The Aussie stunned Teofimo Lopez to take the IBF, WBA and WBO lightweight titles in 2021, but would them lose a pair of decisions to Devin Haney in his homeland in 2022 as he surrendered those belts.
After being fortunate to get the nod over Maxi Hughes for the IBO belt, the 31-year-old would lost that title in his next fight to Vasiliy Lomachenko, who dominated and stopped him in 11 rounds, in what proved to be the final fight of his career.
A move to super lightweight was in order for his last outing, but Daud Yordan withdrew at short notice, and ‘Ferocious’ instead outscored the inexperienced Jake Wyllie in March.
Prediction: Hitchins will likely frustrate Kambosos with his range and skill, and can pull away after the halfway mark to win clearly on the cards.
Cruz clashes with Mishiro
The undercard is headed by the super-talented Andy Cruz and the Cuban stylist is involved in a final eliminator for the IBF lightweight title against Hironori Mishiro.
Cruz (5-0, 2 KOs) has held the IBF International strap since 2023, and has defended four times, the last a wide points win against Omar Gamez in January, while Mishiro (17-1-1, 6 KOs) defended his Japanese title in his last contest, a sixth-round retirement victory over Hinata Maruta last December.
The winner of this bout will face newly-crowned IBF champion, Raymond Muratalla, who was elevated to full champion earlier this week following Lomachenko’s retirement.
Prediction: Cruz is a special talent, and I can’t see him slipping up here. He can outclass Mishiro to take a wide points win.
Teremoana returns
Teremoana Teremoana (7-0, 7 KOs) was pulled from last week’s card in Australia in favour of this one, and the heavyweight can take the stoppage win against fellow unbeaten, Aleem Whitfield (9-0, 6 KOs) in a scheduled six-rounder.
Remaining Undercard
The only eight-rounder is at welterweight, where Pablo Valdez (9-0, 8 KOs) can remain unbeaten with an early win against Cesar Diaz (9-1, 4 KOs).
Nishant Dev (1-0) should come out an early winner in his super welterweight six-rounder with Josue Silva (3-2, 1 KO).
In four-round affairs, super featherweight prospect Zaquin Moses (3-0, 2 KOs) can halt Carl Rogers (3-2), and super bantamweight debutant Adam Maca should outpoint Rafael Castillo (2-6, 1 KO).
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