George Kambosos KOd by Richardson Hitchins in IBF super-lightweight title fight in New York

There are question marks over George Kambosos’ future after the Aussie was stopped by slick American Richardson Hitchins in New York.

George Kambosos was KOed by Richardson Hitchins. Picture: Adam Hunger/Getty Images

George Kambosos fell short in his IBF super-lightweight world title tilt, outboxed and knocked out by slick American Richardson Hitchins at the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York.

Hitchins attacked the Aussie’s body in a one-sided display in defence of his 140-pound belt, stopping the bout in the eighth round.

“I’m a warrior, but he’s a hell of a fighter,” Kambosos said. “I really believed in myself but I didn’t have the timing in there.

“He was too good tonight. He hit me with a beautiful body shot. I got up at nine or 10, but the ref’s gotta do his job.

“The boxing world is gonna talk a little bit now, but I hope you guys appreciate the warrior I am.

“I fought the best.

“It was just the timing, maybe I’ve had too many wars. I thought I caught him nicely a couple of times, but it is what it is.”

Richardson Hitchins STOPS George Kambosos Jr with a VICIOUS body shot!! 😳#HitchinsKambosospic.twitter.com/22af4YhgPT

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 15, 2025

The result leaves Kambosos’ career at a crossroads after moving up to super-lightweight this year.

He has now lost four of his last six fights, with one of his two wins a controversial decision over Englishman Maxi Hughes.

“I don’t know right now,” he said when asked what’s next. “I‘ve had two fights in three months.

“I’ve been fighting the best. Right now I’m gonna go and coach my son’s footy team. It is what it is.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board. I chased it, I believed in it, but he was too good.”

Hitchins controlled the early rounds with a brilliant jab, opening cuts under the Aussie’s right eye in just the second frame.

The slick New Yorker was in complete control by the fourth, leaving Kambosos swinging at air while clinically landing his long right hand.

George Kambosos was no match for Hitchins. Picture: Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Hitchins nearly ended it in the fifth after attacking the body, but Kambosos survived bravely to see the bell.

Kambosos went on the attack in the sixth, drawing blood from Hitchins’ mouth, but it was all one way traffic in the American’s favour.

Hitchins was so dominant that he pointed to Kambosos’ corner and told them to stop the bout and save their fighter midway through the eighth.

Moments later, Hitchins took matters into his own hands, literally, driving a left hook to the body and sending Kambosos to the mat. The Sydneysider struggled to his feet, but the fight was waved off, handing Hitchins his first world title defence.

“I told his dad if you love your son, you’ll stop the fight,” Hitchins said afterwards. “He was tough, he was a true competitor, but I was just the better man tonight.

“I had to go to some unsafe places to get some shots off. He got me with a couple of good shots, but he didn’t really hurt me so I went for the kill.”

KAMBOSOS HURT TO THE BODY! 😱#HitchinsKambosos | @DAZNBoxingpic.twitter.com/3kWO2S8fUn

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 15, 2025

Rising heavyweight star Teremoana Junior needed just two-and-a-half minutes to annihilate Aleem Whitfield on the undercard.

The Paris Olympian left Whitfield unconscious on the canvas with his leg awkwardly stuck underneath him as he flopped against the ring ropes.

Two left hands backed Whitfield up into the corner, and a right cross ended it in devastating fashion.

“Keep an eye out, I’m here to take over the heavyweight division,” Teremoana said after his fifth consecutive first round knockout win.

“I want to take out everyone here.

“I’ve been in with the best in the world at the Olympics, and I believe I should’ve been the gold medallist.

“I’m on the path to be the world champ.

“I like the pros because you can really hurt your opponent. The gloves are smaller. It makes me faster I believe I’m the fastest heavyweight out there.

“Anyone can get it.”

Teremoana stops Aleem Whitfield. Picture: Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said the 27-year-old could be knocking on the door of a world title shot by next year.

“This guy is a future heavyweight world champion,” Hearn said. “He’s full of energy and personality, exactly what the sport need.

“He has speed, IQ, and tremendous punching power as well.

“We’re going to have a show in Australia in August, I want to box him there, bring him back to the UK and America for two or three fights, keep him busy, get him to 10-0 then we step into championship contention.”

There was a disaster for another Aussie heavyweight though, with Sydney’s Jackson Murray suffering a shock first round loss in Argentina to Leandro Daniel Robutti.

Previously undefeated, Murray has been a sparring partner for Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, but was flattened in scary scenes in Buenos Aires.

1試合目からアホみたいに面白い#ボクシング#井上尚弥pic.twitter.com/LSiAJqtRCQ

— 仮屋（仮）　kariya_kari (@kariya_akira222) June 15, 2025

Sporting just a 12-7 record going into the fight, the rotund Robutti was stopped inside two rounds by Justis Huni in December.

Robutti mauled Murray early on, clubbing him with big left hands, dropping him early on.

The 30-year-old Murray regained his feet, but was stopped shortly afterwards in stunning fashion.

Originally published as George Kambosos KOd by Richardson Hitchins in IBF super-lightweight title fight in New York