IBF mild welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins boasted on social media right this moment, saying he’d confirmed himself as a “true champion” after stopping his hand-picked opponent George Kambosos within the eighth spherical final Saturday night time.
Hitchins’ “True Champion” Declare
Hitchins (20-0, 8 KOs) believes that his win over the previous three-belt light-weight champion Kambosos (22-4, 10 KOs) implies that he’s confirmed himself as one of many elite fighters within the sport. This struggle was an abomination that ought to have by no means occurred.
“In boxing, they stated you’re not a real champion till you defend your title #TrueChampion,” stated Richardson Hitchins on X.
If beating Kambosos is what’s used to gauge whether or not a fighter has reached elite-level standing, it doesn’t say a lot in regards to the sport. He was a down-and-out fighter coming into the struggle, with a 1-4 document, nonetheless dwelling off his victory from 4 years in the past towards Teofimo Lopez.
For Kambosos to have been chosen for a title shot towards Hitchins, it doesn’t say a lot in regards to the champion or his promoter for selecting him over extra deserving fighters, like Gary Antuanne Russell and Subriel Matias. Russell beat Hitchins 4 instances within the amateurs and has been calling him out, however has been ignored by the New Yorker.
Hitchins must be compelled to stroll the plank by combating Russell, Matias, and Ernesto Mercado in that order. If he comes out victorious in a single piece, then he can brag that he’s a “true champion” and reached elite standing.
The 140-lb Gauntlet Ignored
Bragging could be okay for Hitchins if he beat the killers beneath:
Gary Antuanne Russell
Subriel Matias
Jamaine Ortiz
Keyshawn Davis
Ernesto Mercado
Oscar Duarte
Isaac Cruz
Most of those fighters would beat Hitchins fairly simply if he would really conform to struggle them. I don’t assume he’ll ever struggle any of them for apparent causes. That’s the issue with fighters like Hitchins. Their promoters maneuver them into capturing world titles with out combating anybody of high quality, after which as soon as they choose up a belt, they crow in regards to the win, and name out widespread fighters that they’ve enterprise combating.
After Hitchins’ win over Kambosos, he known as out Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. Haney not fights at 140. So, if that matchup have been to occur, Richardson would freeze his IBF mild welterweight title whereas he goes as much as 147 for a payday struggle. If he does do this, the IBF ought to strip him of his mild welterweight title as a result of it’s not truthful to the contenders ready in line for his or her title shot within the rankings.
All sanctioning our bodies ought to have a rule that champions can’t transfer up in weight with out giving up their titles. How are you going to have a sport if belt-holders like Hitchins transfer round as they please, leaving their titles frozen and ready for them once they return?
Boxing Information 24 » Hitchins Proclaims “True Champion” Standing After Stopping George Kambosos
Final Up to date on 06/18/2025
