Latest news with #JimKambosos
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
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. 4 4 4 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.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
George Kambosos Jr and Richardson Hitchins face-off features slap and thwarted attempt to throw chair
The final press conference for George Kambosos Jr's fight with Richardson Hitchins ended in chaos on Thursday, as promoter Eddie Hearn decided to scrap a face-off between the boxers. Kambosos Jr's father, Jim, appeared to use a microphone to strike Hitchins's trainer, Lenny Wilson, who then grabbed a chair in an apparent attempt to throw it across the stage. Hitchins, 27, prevented his coach from doing so, but Hearn called an end to the press conference to prevent further altercations. The protagonists were quickly escorted off the stage as a result. Still, American Hitchins and Australia's Kambosos Jr, 31, are set to face off at Friday's weigh-in, before their grudge match in New York City on Saturday night (14 June). Thursday's drama began with Hitchins getting in Kambosos Jr's face over a $50,000 bet that they had discussed earlier in the week. Hitchins, after flashing $50,000 in cash in Kambosos Jr's face on Thursday, said: 'The money is here, can we shake on it? 'Bet the f*****g money, you p****,' he added, after Kambosos Jr shoved the champion and shouted: 'You better get the f*** out of my face.' Later, after the mic slap and chair incident, Hitchins shouted: 'F*** around, and you won't make it out of this city. You boys better calm the f*** down.' Kambosos Jr hit back: 'I got boys, too [...] I'm in your city, I don't give a f***.' In Saturday's bout at Madison Square Garden Theater, Hitchins will defend the IBF super-lightweight title, along with his unbeaten record of 19-0 (7 knockouts). Meanwhile, Kambosos Jr (22-3, 10 KOs) is aiming to become a two-weight world champion. The Australian was previously a unified champion at lightweight, but with two points losses to Devin Haney in 2022, he lost the IBF and WBO belts and failed to regain them. Haney also retained the WBC title in those fights, both of which took place in Australia. Kambosos Jr bounced back with a controversial decision victory over Maxi Hughes in 2023, picking up the IBO lightweight strap, but he lost it in May 2024 to Vasyl Lomachenko, who also won the vacant IBF gold that night. While Lomachenko retired last week, Kambosos Jr responded to his defeat with a points win against Jake Wyllie in March. Meanwhile, Hitchins took the IBF super-lightweight title from Liam Paro last time out, winning a split decision against the Australian southpaw in December.
