Latest news with #DevinHaney
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richardson Hitchins has the antidote to boring boxing
Richardson Hitchins put on one of the finest performances of 2025 in his Saturday victory over George Kambosos Jr. Richardson Hitchins showed Saturday that the science of boxing is rarely sweeter than when hit-and-don't-get-hit concepts are applied appropriately. There are plenty of recent instances when boxers have confused the above, have gotten the ratio all wrong, and have fought with a style that focuses less on hitting and more on just not getting hit. Period. Advertisement Against William Scull on May 3, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, the face of boxing, failed to land a jab in six of the 12 rounds, landed 56 shots in total, and the 152 punches he threw in the fight as a whole were the fewest for a 12-round bout in data-cruncher CompuBox's entire 40-year history. "Canelo" won, but it was one of the most forgettable fights of the modern age. That same weekend, Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez combined to produce one of the most boring bouts in boxing history, throwing a total of 503 punches between them — the sixth-fewest for a 12-round bout, per CompuBox. Haney earned the decision on the scorecards. Shakur Stevenson, meanwhile, has routinely faced criticisms that his performances against Robson Conceicao, Edwin de los Santos and Artem Harutyunyan over the past three years were tiresome, despite a winning result each time. It is perhaps this ongoing trend that prompted the sport's chief financier, Turki Alalshikh, to implore boxers to fight with more positive intent. Advertisement "I don't want to see any more Tom and Jerry-type boxing matches where one fighter is running around the ring, and the other is chasing him," Alalshikh proclaimed to his 7.1 million followers on X last week. "We can longer support these kinds of fights." While volume punchers like William Zepeda, Jesse Rodriguez and David Benavidez will presumably be exempt, together with knockout punchers like Naoya Inoue, Daniel Dubois and Gervonta Davis who also maximize excitement, Alalshikh's sentiment puts defensive maestros in a predicament. CompuBox rates some defensive wizards in boxing like Chris Eubank Jr., Dmitry Bivol and Terence Crawford, who typically limit their opponents to 6.5 punches landed per round, 6.8, and 7.7, respectively. But they do this while also exhibiting an exquisite attack. Advertisement It is time we add IBF super lightweight champion Hitchins to that list — especially after he finished George Kambosos Jr. in style. As CompuBox notes in data it sent to Uncrowned for this feature, Hitchins has been posting impressive numbers, both defensively and offensively, through his past four fights. Courtesy of CompuBox He's doubled the weight class average in key metrics at a time when his level of opposition keeps rising. In his past four bout, Hitchins averaged 34% punch accuracy with his jab (double the division average of 17%), while limiting his opponents to 7.9 punches per round (half the division average), during his wins over Kambosos, Liam Paro, Gustavo Lemos and Jose Zepeda. Advertisement Against Kambosos specifically, Hitchins appeared punch perfect, landed his ramrod jab, and showed incredible footwork from the beginning of the fight. He marked the eye of his Australian opponent, seemed to use less energy and made Kambosos miss before making him pay with power punches thrown from the pocket. He targeted the body, having studied Vasiliy Lomachenko's gameplan in the Ukrainian's win over Kambosos last year, and dug his left hand into Kambosos' ribs again and again. In the fifth round, the investment to the midsection paid dividends as Kambosos grimaced and reeled backward in pain, as Hitchins laid all kinds of punches onto the chin. Kambosos tried to give Hitchins work in a mid-fight comeback, but, really, it was the beginning of the end as the American leathered his jaw in the seventh with lunging left hooks thrown from the hip. Advertisement A body shot in the eighth, which he had teased throughout the fight, landed with such venom that Kambosos crumpled to the floor. The referee counted him out. It was all over. Hitchins got only the 8th knockout of his 20-fight career as a pro, his first since 2022, against arguably the biggest name he's ever been in the ring with. The victory was a crucial one because it reinforces Hitchins not only as a legitimate world champion, but also as an undefeated American capable of creating significant matches in the 140-pound division — potentially against the likes of his old amateur rival Gary Antuanne Russell, or fellow super lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez. Advertisement Above all, though, it showed that one can still be a defensive master of their craft in boxing, while producing fan-friendly performances that will please even the fiercest of critics. It showed that Hitchins, and other fighters who can box, remain exciting — and have a lot to offer sports and entertainment. Though it remains to be seen whether Hitchins can repeat his Kambosos masterclass against an even bigger name like Lopez, few may bet against him when considering CompuBox's notes about Hitchins' exploits in recent years, which follow a clear theme. The Kambosos performance, you see, wasn't an exception. This is who Hitchins is — a fighter amongst the sweetest of the sport's new-age scientists.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hitchins calls out Haney after title defence
Richardson Hitchins called out Devin Haney after claiming a dominant win over George Kambosos Jr to retain his IBF light-welterweight 27-year-old headlined a show in his hometown New York for the first time and stopped Kambosos with a left hook to the body in the eighth was making his first defence of the title he earned by beating Liam Paro in dominated throughout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, landing a far greater number of blows than Kambosos, a former world champion at being floored in the eighth round, the Australian rose to his feet before the count of 10 but was still grimacing in pain and was unable to meant Hitchins extended his unbeaten record to 20-0, including eight knockouts."I've been telling the boxing world I was coming and they should have listened," he said."I told his [Kambosos'] dad: 'If you love your son, you'll stop the fight.' He was tough, a true competitor, but I was just the better man tonight."Kambosos shocked Teofimo Lopez at the same venue in 2021 to become the unified lightweight the 32-year-old then lost back-to-back fights to Haney and has now lost four of his past six fights for a 22-4 added: "I knew I had to go to some unsafe places to get some good shots off. I put myself in harm's way."He caught me with a couple of good shots, but they didn't hurt me, so I just went for the [finish]."WBO champion Lopez entered the ring after the fight but Hitchins called out the unbeaten Haney, who moved up to welterweight to beat Jose Ramirez last later said on X:, external "We could get it at 147 (welterweight)."Brighton fighter Adam Maca made his professional debut on the undercard and beat Rafael Castillo via a second-round knockout.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Aussie boxer George Kambosos is told he 'won't make it out of New York alive' after violent press conference that saw him accused of faking $350,000 bet with opponent
George Kambosos Jnr has been warned he 'won't make it out of this city' in a chaotic prelude to his New York world title shot. The plucky Australian and former unified lightweight champion will look to go 3-0 at Madison Square Garden Theatre on Sunday (AEST) against IBF super lightweight strap-holder Richardson Hitchins. The pair were due to face off after their press conference on Friday - but that never happened after a series of altercations, including Hitchins' trainer lifting his stool and threatening to charge at Team Kambosos. Hitchins had earlier flashed what he claimed was $50,000 in Kambosos face and urged him to match the all-or-nothing bet, the Australian pushing him away and ripping open his shirt as security swarmed. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn cancelled the face-off as Devin Haney 's father Bill piped up from the crowd to spark another slanging match with the American. Kambosos Jnr's father George Snr later claimed he had a physical altercation trying to protect himself from Hitchins' trainer, Lenny Wilson. And there will be no Face Off at the presser 🤯 #HitchinsKambosos | @DAZNBoxing — Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 12, 2025 In chaotic scenes, Hitchins' trainer lifted his stool (pictured) and threatened to charge at Team Kambosos at a press conference on Friday AEST 'F*** around and you won't make it out of this city,' Brooklyn native Hitchins warned Kambosos. 'F***ing bum, you (are) going to get it.' Kambosos claims he's already bet that much on himself at $7 odds to upset the American, who beat Australian champion Liam Paro in December to snatch the title. The drama plays into the hands of underdog Kambosos, who is returning to the site of his famous 2021 defeat of Teofimo Lopez. Kambosos is 2-0 at MSG and 5-0 in the United States. 'This is the trifecta,' said Kambosos, 22-3 (10 KOs), before the question-and-answer format of the event broke down. 'I'm coming here as the underdog. 'I'm coming to win this fight. You've seen it before, you've seen it in his eyes, whatever it takes, by any means. There is no Plan B.' Hitchins, 19-0 (7 KOs), was in the stadium the night Kambosos upset Lopez. 'This is what I've worked for my whole life,' he said. 'I remember coming to The Garden and watching Teofimo and Kambosos compete. 'I said, 'I can beat both of them guys. As soon as I get my opportunity, I'll be a world champion. I'll bring the championship back to the city.' 'New York had a lot of big fights through the years, but New York hasn't had their own since eight, 10 years ago.' Coverage with Main Event begins from 10:30am AEST on Sunday, June 15.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Turki Alalshikh reveals which type of fighters he wants for his Riyadh Season cards
Senior boxing figure Turki Alalshikh has declared that the Riyadh Season cards he overlooks in Saudi Arabia will only feature 'action' fighters. In a message posted to X/Twitter, Alalshikh said that he no longer wanted to defensive, movement-orientated boxing. Instead, he implied that he and the other organisers would orientate their shows towards fighters that provide excitement to fans. From this point on, I don't want to see any more Tom and Jerry-type boxing matches where one fighter is running around the ring and the other is chasing him. We can longer support these kind of fights with Riyadh Season and The Ring. We want to support fighters who leave it all… — TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) June 11, 2025 Alalshikh wrote: 'From this point on, I don't want to see any more Tom and Jerry-type boxing matches where one fighter is running around the ring and the other is chasing him. We can longer support these kind of fights with Riyadh Season and The Ring. We want to support fighters who leave it all in the ring and fight with heart and pride!' Catch all the latest boxing action on DAZN It was debated widely in the response that Alalshikh was referring to recent fights involving Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, and William Scull. All three fighters have fought recently on Alalshikh cards within Saudi Arabia and the US in performances that were, to many, disappointing. Haney fought on 2 May at the Times Square card in New York, winning a wide decision over Jose Carlos Ramirez. Meanwhile, Stevenson beat Josh Padley in nine rounds in Riyadh in February (he is also set to fight the undefeated William Zepeda Segura next month in New York) and Scull faced Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in a disappointing Riyadh fight last month. Bill Haney reacts to the assumption that Turki Alalshikh tweet of basically Banning Runners from future Riyadh Season and Ring Magazine Cards, was talking about Devin Haney. [Wrapstar Boxing Knowledge YT🎥] — PUNSH DRUNK (@MrMoonshine10) June 11, 2025 Despite this, Bill Haney, the father and coach of Devin Haney, has said in an interview that Alalshikh's remarks did not apply to his son. Haney said: 'The only thing I can say is that he is not talking about Devin Haney. We just had a deal on the table for Teofimo Lopez. Quite a bit of money, a handsome ransom, for a night's work. We had a deal on the deal. Right now, that deal is probably still on the table for Teofimo Lopez. So, I know they're not talking about him.' He added: 'Devin will be fighting in Riyadh in October. And a good fight.' Haney added that Alalshikh was entitled to his opinion. He said: 'I don't believe he's talking about Devin.' Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
The Best Fighters to Come… From Ukraine
If the world has learned anything of note in the past three years, it may be that the Ukrainians are not a people to be messed with. Catch all the latest boxing action on DAZN Given what has been seen of Ukrainian bravery, fortitude, and resistance in that time, it is no surprise that the nation has given the world some tremendous boxers and fighters over the last twenty-five years. Vasyl Lomachenko, 18-3 (12) Newly retired, 'Loma' may have been the most preternaturally gifted boxer of his generation. As an amateur, he won 396 of 397 amateur fights and picked up Olympic medals in 2008 and 2012. Bizarrely, his debut fight was for a title, albeit a largely meaningless one in the form of the WBO international featherweight belt. But Lomachenko won by stoppage in four rounds, then promptly lost a split decision five months later for the WBO world featherweight title. Not to be deterred, Lomachenko won that title just three months later with a majority decision against Gary Allen Russell Jr and then went on a run of twelve victories, moving like a scythe through the likes of Anthony Crolla, Luke Campbell, Jorge Linares, and Guillermo Rigondeaux. In 2020, Lomachenko attempted to unify the world lightweight title but dropped a unanimous decision to Teofimo Lopez. He moved back to winning ways with three wins on the trot, before losing a decision to the then-undefeated Devin Haney in another world lightweight unification bout. There was, however, one last hurrah when Lomachenko went to Australia just over a year ago where he stopped George Kambosos Jr in eleven rounds. Retiring this week at the age of 37, Lomachenko said that he was moving in a new direction in life. Wladimir Klitschko, 64-5 (53) The former undisputed heavyweight king was actually born within the borders of Kazakhstan in 1976, but is proudly and firmly Ukrainian. After winning gold in the super-heavyweight division in the 1996 Olympics, the younger of the Klitschko brothers turned professional in 1996 and fought mainly in Germany before US fighter Ross Puritty stopped him in eleven rounds in Kyiv in 1998. Returning in Germany, this Klitschko steadily rebuilt, fighting across the world, until WBO champion Chris Byrd was persuaded to go to Cologne in 2000. A twelve-round decision gave Klitschko his first world title, which he then defended against the likes of Charles Shufford, 17-1; Frans Both, 44-3-1; Ray Mercer, 30-4-1; and Jameel McCline, 28-2-3. The wheels coming off with losses in the second and fifth rounds to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster in 2003 and 2004 seemed to spell the end, but Klitschko outscored dangerman Samuel Peter before steadily collecting all the belts (apart from the WBC, which was owned by brother Vitali). A close loss to Tyson Fury in Dusseldorf in 2015 spelled the end of one of the longest heavyweight runs. But there was still some fire left – a 2017 match against Anthony Joshua, when Klitschko was 41, became a heavyweight classic and proved as good a time as any for the Ukrainian to finally retire. Vitali Klitschko, 45-2 (41) If Wladimir was the boxer, then elder brother Vitali was the fighter. Currently Mayor of Kyiv, this Klitschko was originally supposed to be Ukraine's super-heavyweight in the 1996 Olympics but lost out on a berth due to a failed drugs test. Instead, the senior Klitschko turned professional later that year and, fighting largely out of Germany like his brother, worked his way up to the European title within two years. After defending the European title twice, Klitschko went to London and knocked out the heavy-punching Herbie Hide in two rounds for the WBO title. Two defences of the WBO title followed before a shoulder injury forced Klitschko to retire after nine rounds against Chris Byrd. If Vitali's standing had been diminished by the loss to Byrd, he regained it by losing on cuts against Lennox Lewis, coming in on short notice. There was no rematch, however, as Lewis retired and Klitschko, after defeating Kirk Johnson in two rounds, slugged it out against Corrie Sanders to win the vacant WBC title. After one defence and citing injuries, Klitschko retired. Only to come back four years later, stopping Samuel Peter in eight rounds in Berlin. Reinvigorated, Klitschko made nine defences of the WBC title before retiring after a technical knockout over Mahmoud Charr. Oleksandr Usyk, 23-0 (14) Current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is the only fighter on this list to still be undefeated, although many have tried. The problem is that there may be no heavyweight on the planet capable of doing so while only in possession of two arms. While Usyk has remained undefeated against Fury (twice), Joshua (twice), and Dubois in what has been one of the richest seams in heavyweight history, he also does so as a cruiserweight who has moved up. It is a rare occurrence, too, that Usyk fights at home in Ukraine. But this is a man who has spent the majority of his career on the road. Usyk won his first world title against the Polish Krzysztof Glowacki in Gdansk, Poland, in 2016. From there, he defended his title twice in the US, before travelling to Germany to beat Marco Huck in the inaugural World Boxing Super Series. Usyk then travelled on foreign soil three times, to beat Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev, and Tony Bellew on home territory before going to Chicago to beat Chazz Witherspoon in Usyk's first heavyweight fight. He then came back to the UK to beat Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua, the latter for the heavyweight titles. Decamping to Saudi Arabia, Usyk rematched Joshua – and won. Then he went to Poland to fight Daniel Dubois (the city was brimmed that night with Ukrainians – the closest to a home crowd Usyk had had in years), before returning to Riyadh to face Tyson Fury twice – winning both bouts. And in a few weeks, live and exclusive on DAZN, Usyk will face Daniel Dubois again – this time at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London. Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month.
