| Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos Jr. will clash in a blockbuster IBF Junior Welterweight Title fight from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, June 14, live worldwide on DAZN.
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Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) headlines his first Madison Square Garden card defending his IBF Junior Welterweight Title, under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. This fight will be the Brooklyn native’s first defense of the title he won in December defeating Liam Paro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Kambosos Jr. (22-3, 10 KOs) won a unanimous decision victory over Jake Wyllie in March in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. Kambosos, a former IBF, WBA, and WBO Lightweight Champion, makes his return to Madison Square Garden, where he holds an undefeated record (2-0), having defeated Mickey Bey in 2019 and Teofimo Lopez in 2021.
Andy Cruz will face Hironori Mishiro in an Eliminator for the IBF World Lightweight Title, while Zaquin Moses, coming off his second round knockout at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City steps back into the ring for his fourth professional fight.
This is what they said ahead of their respective fights.
EDDIE HEARN
“What a moment, what a building, what an occasion for boxing at Madison Square Garden in New York. The mecca of boxing. This Saturday night live and exclusive on DAZN around the world. We have a tremendous World Championship main event with Richardson Hitchins, who will make his New York return as World Champion, looking to make a statement in the division and propel himself to superstardom in the sport facing the very live underdog who dethroned Teofimo Lopez in the same building a couple of years ago to become the undisputed champion, George Kambosos. He is looking for one of the biggest wins in Australian boxing and trying to become a two-division world champion.”
“We have an incredible undercard and when I look at the fighters we represent I have never been more excited about the future of the sport. Matchroom Boxing, the only global promotional company in the world has by far the best roster in the sport, but it’s the young ones you are going to see dominate the sport moving forward. It’s an opportunity for these guys to fight at the Mecca of boxing like Adam Maca making his professional debut. Nishant Dev who is going to completely change the face of boxing in India. Zaquin Moses who is Shakur’s (Stevenson) cousin and the future of American boxing. Teremoana Teremoana with seven wins and seven knockouts and a future world champion. This man to my right [Andy Cruz] is one of the greatest amateurs of our generation as a two-time Olympic gold medalist.”
RICHARDSON HITCHINS
“First off, I just want to thank God for being here. All this actually becoming true because I know the work that I put in, it’s been happening years before I was signed with you (Matchroom) – you (Eddie Hearn) helped save my career and I want to give a personal thank you. You brought structure back into my career and I said it over and over my manager kept calling, my coach Lenny Wilson, Scooter strength conditioning, Whitey my manager. This is what I worked for my whole life this whole everything. I remember coming to the Garden and watching Teofimo and Kambosos compete and I looked and I said I can beat both of those guys. Slowly but surely I said when I get my opportunity I’ll be world champion. I’ll bring the championship back to New York because you know New York has had a lot of big fights through the years. But New York hasn’t had its own, I want to say for 8-10 years now, brought a championship back home and competed. You know they have somebody they could be behind and I’m glad I’m thankful to God that I’m that guy.”
“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**cked 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 thousand. His dad said he got the bet, so hold up, he said bring the money. The money’s here, hold up [Richardson pulls out $50k].”
“You’re fighting a real New Yorker now, and you’ll see me calm and collected and ready. And this is why I hate the whole media they’re trying to write me off about my last fight with Liam Paro, everybody said I was going to lose the fight. Show you a lot of people don’t know about boxing – like I said now they want to make me the favorite. They should have put me as an underdog so I could really shock the world again. He’s a bum, he’s still living off the Teofimo win.”
“Dominating fashion – like I said Saturday night I won’t be going nowhere, I’ll be right in front of him. Bill Haney wants to say don’t run, get knocked the f*ck out. I ain’t f**cking Devin Haney I’ll be right in front of him all night punching this guy. I’m going to be right there all night. I worry about the whole boxing world. This whole sport is my shit.”
GEORGE KAMBOSOS JR
“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 favorite home grounds to do the trifecta in a Matchroom show and I never lost in America or a Matchroom show.”
LENNY WILSON
“I was listening to Mr. DiBella and Lou is right. I’ve been seeing him for quite some time and remember seeing him at Hammerstein Ballroom days when we were sneaking in with the bands. One of the most important things he said was that he remembers Richardson Hitchins since he was a kid and has been around boxing all his life. A lot of people don’t realize that champions are not made in the ring but through the heart, dedication, determination, motivation and all those things that forges a champion. Hitchins did everything possible to prepare for this fight and I tip my hat to Kambosos and his father for taking this fight. These are the fights Hitchins needs so he can solidify his legacy. I know for a fact that on Saturday night they will be saying, “And still the IBF Champion of the World, Richardson Hitchins.”
“I believe that the talk is over. June 14th is the day that people are going to see who Richardson Hitchins really is. They watch his fights and see some mistakes but they don’t realize that Hitchins is always evolving in the ring. This is his time and our time and Kambosos’ time where he’s about to be out of here. So I tip my hat to Kambosos so the world can see who Richardson Hitchins really is.”
JIM KAMBOSOS
“It’s great to be back here especially where George has had success twice. I’ve got that bulldog about me because the simple thing is I’m a manager and a father. I fight for my fighters and I work for my fighters. George Kambosos as much as he’s my son I also take care of his business, so when George is in a fight and same with my other fighters I’m in bulldog mode as well because I go to every training camp and see every sparring session and I’m part of the team. Right now, George is in fight mode and I’m in fight mode too. Hope Hitchins doesn’t have a dad here because I have a thing about dads. Maybe we should start a dad competition to make a lot of money out of that.
“This is great and we are here to win and on Saturday night George Kambsos is going to show the world that Madison Square Garden is favorite home out of Australia. We had to take George out of his comfort zone and straight out of the Sydney show we already put a plan together for George to be based in Montreal and training in big gyms with big names. We flew in sparring partners from across the world and I can tell you one thing, the guys we use to work with are a lot faster and trickier with better footwork than George is going to face on Saturday night. If George can handle that business then Hitchins is going to be easy work.”
ANDY CRUZ
“First off, I want to say thank you to everyone that is here present supporting this great event here on Saturday night. I’m more than ready for this opportunity for this fight and I’m going to give everything and take full advantage of it.”
“In terms of my “son” Keyshawn Davis he needs to learn the lessons that his father taught him. The fans that he let down and ended up losing his title without actually fighting, but my focus is on the fight Saturday night with Mishiro who is a great fighter. I’m prepared for whatever comes following the fight.”
HIRONORI MISHIRO
“This fight is going to be a life changing opportunity for me. I absolutely know how good of a fighter he [Andy Cruz] is but I’m not here to just fight, I’m here to win. I came all the way from Japan to show the world that Japanese fighters are built different.”
TEREMOANA TEREMOANA
“First I just want to say greetings to you all in the name of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. It’s such a blessing being here today in MSG and I look forward to this challenge like you said. There’s a lot of people who have been saying I’ve been fighting tomato cans and stuff like that. So I’m really glad that we’ve got a challenge in front of me. That’s what I live for you know. I just want to be here and fight the best. One by one I want to go up and destroy everyone and unfortunately for this guy June 14, he’s going to realize that I’m the next up and coming great and I’m looking forward to getting in the room with you mate.”
“You know MSG is every fighter’s dream, you want to fight here in front of the big lights. For me it’s just my goal to be world champion. I just want to prove that I’m the best. That if anyone steps in the ring I’ll get through them. And yeah I’m so glad I got a challenge. I look forward to it, because a lot of people have been seeing the skill that I possess and I’m pretty sure this fella here he’ll bring it out of me and I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan, this is a whole new year with Australian boxing. Like as you can see…champions of the world just broke old mates draw on the weekend, justice unfortunately fell short. That’s heavyweight boxing you know. All it takes is one punch. That’s why I love it, all it takes is one punch, you just gotta prove you’re the best. I’m here to prove I’m the best and one by one I’ll go all the way to the top. Anyone who’s in my way they can get it.”
ALEEM WHITFIELD
“Yeah I’m super ready, you know what I’m saying. I respect him a little bit – he’s doing his thing. I take my hat off to him, you understand? But what people don’t know is that I’ve been boxing since I was six years old. I was No. 2 as an amateur, I was No. 2 in the world – in the USA when I was an amatuer. The only thing different is he got a little shine. I’m from a little town that doesn’t get any shine so it’s my time. I came here for all the smoke you know, the only thing on my mind right now is the beast is going to eat, y’all don’t know about me but I’m going to show you.”
“I started boxing when I was six years old, you know what I’m saying? I was No. 2 in the country in 2008, 2009. I traveled to Dublin, Ireland, with the USA team. I even shot 165 for Sean Porter. People don’t know me, I was swept under the rug but I didn’t get on the platform like everybody else did, you know what I’m saying. I was kind of swept under the rug and it was hard for me to get where I’m at, but I’m here. I’m ready to eat. I’m ready.”
“I’ve been fighting heavy weights since I was a young buck so it ain’t nothing to me. I fought everybody, you know what I’m saying, that’s nothing to me. I’m 6’2 and a beast. I appreciate the opportunity, you know. God’s got opportunities for everybody you know what I mean. So I appreciate it.”
ZAQUIN MOSES
“I mean for sure, I mean without God none of this would be possible so I want to thank God before anything. But I’m back, I’m back in action Saturday. It’s another opportunity to be under the lights, it’s another opportunity to show my skills and I can’t wait.”
“For sure, I’m enjoying it right now, I’m having fun. I’m loving the lights, I work hard. I want a lot too, I do feel like I said this last time, but I do feel like I am the best prospect in boxing. I do feel like they don’t talk about me enough. They just talk about me as Shakur’s cousin, but I am Zaquin Moses, I am one of the best prospects coming up. And Saturday I can’t wait to show it and I can’t wait to shine.”
PABLO VALDEZ
“First of all I want to thank God for this opportunity. He’s a little quiet, he was talking a lot of shit on social media. But no disrespect to these fighters here. You got amazing talent here, but no one’s coming to see your fighters, they’re coming to see me and Richardson man. We are the main event. No disrespect. I’m the ticket seller, this is my city. I’m king of NY. And you said that I’m old and that Dominicans can’t fight.]”
“If he stays in the middle of the ring and fights with me, he’s getting knocked out. If he runs we’re still going to get the victory which I know he’s going to run after he feels my power.”
“I’m excited man, I train with the best, I got the best team man, shoutout to Gaby Starks, Sherry Yona, Nirmal, Richardson – ask him who gave him the sparring. I’m the one who’s helping him spar. I’m going to tell you something – I need you to believe this. 20 years back, you take 20 years away from me and I’ll be your Canelo. I believe I’ll be your Canelo. And I’ll make you believe that this Saturday. Why I believe the spotlight, why I love to fight and why I made this. And everybody knows I went to prison – if I don’t go to prison I will be beating everybody up in this weight class, promise you that.”
“Tell his team to stay in the middle of the ring and fight with me and don’t run. I’m from the Dominican Republic. I’ve got massive nuts.”
CESAR DIAZ
“Firstly I want to say thanks all for being present here. To be honest I’ve had a really good training camp going into this fight and we’re coming in extremely well prepared. I’ve seen a lot of his fights and I don’t believe we have too much to worry about. So I believe I can put on a great show on Saturday night.”
“Listen, you know, I’ve been fighting for many years. I’ve travelled, I’ve fought under pressure, I’m completely ready for Saturday night and I hope he’s ready so we can put on a show here in MSG. I’ve got nothing to lose going into this fight. I’m going to go in from the very first round looking for that knockout. One of us is going to fall in this. I’m going to f**k you up.”
NISHANT DEV
“Every athlete has a dream to fight in Las Vegas, Big Arena and Madison Square Garden. It was a great pro debut on January 25th and I’m looking forward to Madison Square Garden taking over to win hearts.”
” I just have something special inside of me, I am a good boxer but if something comes from the outside I go for the knockout – I’m going to use the same thing and perform. I’m not going to look for the knockout, but I’m going to show my skills.”
“I want to be active after every fight and I’m really excited when I hear that Turki Al-Sheikh says my name to Canelo. Back in India, people are so excited to see me and they keep commenting on my posts and keep DMing me saying ‘when are you going to fight in India?’ So I told them to be patient – good things will come and we will soon fight in India. Right now I’m busy trying to win the hearts of the USA, and then I’m going to fight in India.”
ADAM MACA
“Obviously being on this card MSG shows what my manager thinks of me. It’s my time to turn up so I’m going to show everyone what I can do. I think boxing fans want to see knockouts and exciting fights.” |
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