Keith Idec brings word that IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins’ inaugural defense will see him battle George Kambosos Jr on June 14th at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
This is not a compelling matchup. Kambosos (22-3, 10 KO) has competed just once at 140, beating late replacement Jake Wyllie last month. His four prior wins each came by split or majority decision, the most egregious of them a bogus MD over Maxi Hughes that earned him a beating at the hands of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Kambosos’ style excels at punishing reckless aggressors but has proven largely helpless against actual technicians, and while Hitchins (19-0, 7 KO) may be horrendous to watch, he’s got the height, length, and skill to give “Ferocious” fits.
That said, it’s not a surprising matchup, either. This was clearly Matchroom’s play from the moment they signed Kambosos; his inaugural bout under their banner was originally scheduled to come against an aged, undersized Daud Yordan. Having flamed out at 135 and with no easy access to a lucrative Teofimo Lopez rematch, this was the only real option they had.
The one silver lining is that Hitchins still has to fight Subriel Matias within eight months.
