Brawl breaks out on stage before George Kambosos vs Richardson Hitchins over $50,000 fight bet
GEORGE KAMBOSOS and Richardson Hitchins almost sparked a mass brawl on stage after clashing over a $50,000 fight bet.
Kambosos returns to New York - where he stunned Teofimo Lopez to win the lightweight titles in 2021 - to challenge for Hitchins's 140lb IBF belt.
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And the American champion brought $50,000 (£42,500) cash on stage with him at their press conference to challenge Kambosos to a wager.
He said: 'As far as George Kambosos, a lot of people want to say that - you know when they fight me a lot of guys game plan to go forward, hit him in the shoulder, break him down.
"That's every guy's f**cking game plan. I think that George Kambosos is at this level because obviously he's got boxing skills. That's what f***ed Teofimo up.
"Teofimo came at him as if he was just a regular guy and you know he ran into his face.
"Saturday night I'll be right in front of him all night long and if he's confident in himself, they say I'm easy work. I know for sure I'm confident in myself, I've been saying it since the face off.
"I want to bet 50,000. His dad said he got the bet, so hold up, he said bring the money. The money's here, hold up."
After Hitchins produced the cash - Kambosos alleged it was "fake" money causing the two camps to clash on stage.
And Kambosos' dad and trainer Jim is said to have attacked Hitchins' trainer Lenny Wilson in defence as security were forced to intervene.
Kambosos, 31, has only lost to Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko and stepped up to super-lightweight to beat Jake Wyllie in March.
Unbeaten Hitchins, 27, meanwhile won the title against Liam Paro in December to spoil an all-Aussie title bout against Kambosos.
Kambosos, the challenger again, said: 'As you know, I love that underdog role, but there are no maybes, I'm doing this. There's no fake stuff.
"I'm going to this home in a familiar place where I'm 2-0 already. This is the trifecta. Like Lenny said, the talk is finished and we don't need to sit and talk.
"I'm coming here as the underdog and I'm coming here to win this fight. You have seen it before and I'm here to win this fight; whatever it takes there is no plan B.
'He's the one who is making statements and saying he's going to knock me out.
"We have our plans and have worked extremely hard in training camp and who knows maybe I will learn from him and run the whole fight.
"You know I can box and fight and dictate the fight to do whatever it takes. I can get knocked down and get back up again to win a championship fight.
"I've seen it all at the highest level and have been at the pinnacle and he isn't. When you fight the best and beat the best and lose to the best you're still here.
"This warrior is still here back at his favourite home grounds to do the trifecta in a Matchroom show and I never lost in America or a Matchroom show.'
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