Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr.: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Unbeaten IBF super-lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins makes the first defense of his 140lbs title when he takes on former three-belt lightweight king George Kambosos Jr. at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. 

Hitchins (19-0, 17 KOs) impressed when outpointing Liam Paro in December, and Kambosos (22-3, 10 KOs) is a huge +700 underdog in New York. 

Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. betting picks and predictions

Richardson Hitchins to win by KO, TKO or DQ (+210)

Richardson Hitchins is a fighter on the rise and he looks set to continue his ascent in his first world title defense against George Kambosos Jr.

The Brooklyn boxer impressed when outpointing the tough and skilled Liam Paro in December, and there could be more to come from the 27-year-old. 

The American was only awarded a split-decision success against Paro, with the verdict somewhat skewed by one rogue scorecard.

In truth though, the victory over Paro came from a dominant performance against a previously unbeaten boxer and that rates as pretty strong form in the context of a clash with Kambosos. 

The Australian challenger is a former three-belt world champion, but his victory over Teofimo Lopez where he claimed the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO lightweight titles is the only top-level victory on the 31-year-old’s record. 

'Ferocious' was a huge underdog when upsetting Lopez in 2021 and will be hoping to pull off another shock Madison Square Garden victory, but the recent efforts of Kambosos don’t inspire confidence in a repeat New York success. 

Following the victory over Lopez, Kambosos was twice hammered by Devin Haney, and while losing to the Dream is no embarrassment, there are still concerns arising from those bouts. 

The Aussie then struggled to get the better of Maxi Hughes, who is tough and committed, but cannot be considered a world-level fighter.

A stoppage defeat to Vasiliy Lomachenko was next for the Sydney man and Ferocious has plenty to prove on Saturday night. 

The success over Lopez has become more and more of an outlier on his CV and there is now the added worry that he may be past his best. 

Hitchens has a rock-solid jab and throws accurate punches, and it would be no surprise if the Brooklyn boxer outclassed and overwhelmed his opponent to maintain his perfect record. 

Taking Hitchins to win by stoppage on Saturday looks the best way to play the New York contest.

Richardson Hitchens to win in rounds 7-12 (+350)

At +350, Hitchens can also be backed to win in rounds 7-12. 

The Brooklyn boxer doesn’t boast a stunning knockout ratio (seven in 19 victories) but there are huge concerns over the punch resistance of Kambosos.

The Aussie took a fierce battering from Haney, and he also was crushed, knocked down twice, and stopped by Lomachenko.

Ferocious has taken a fair amount of punishment in bouts where he has been outclassed and that could have diminished the Sydney man’s punch resistance. 

Hitchens should control the fight and it would be no surprise if he stopped Kambosos in the second half of Saturday night’s New York showdown. 

Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos Jr. odds

	Richardson Hitchins	George Kambosos Jr.
Money Line	-1200	+700
By KO, TKO, DQ	+210	+1400
By Decision or Technical Decision	-200	+1800

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.