Maybe not in appearance and fighting style, but in attitude. Without exactly saying it, Hitchins reminds Kambosos of
Teofimo Lopez.
The nonstop trash-talking, the flippant demeanor, even the disregard he’s being shown by oddsmakers — all of it is reminiscent of the night Kambosos became a star.
In 2021, Lopez walked around New York City like he owned it. And, to a certain extent, he did. But once Kambosos stepped in and upset the Brooklyn native, the Australian contender’s spotlight hasn’t dimmed.
In Hitchins, Kambosos sees a decent fighter, but one that hasn’t reached the mountaintop. In addition to what he considers overrated skills, Kambosos believes Brooklyn’s Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) isn’t a fan favorite.
Luckily for the current IBF 140-pound champ, Sydney’s Kambosos is here not only to snatch his belt,
but to save the day.“This kid can’t sell,” Kambosos told FightHype.com recently. “They bought in the big dog. I’ve been at the pinnacle.”
For much of his career, Kambosos (22-3, 10 KOs) fought at 135 pounds. The former unified lightweight champ decided to move up to junior welterweight last year, after
Vasiliy Lomachenko beat him by 11th-round technical knockout last May in Perth, Australia.
The reprieve he received from moving up in weight has seemingly done Kambosos’ 31-year-old body good. Once he grabbed his recent win over Jake Wyllie, he stood around and flexed.
Happy with his new physique, Kambosos is buoyant over the few extra meals he’ll be afforded again before he has to make weight for the Hitchins fight. With his physical catching up with his mental, Kambosos can’t wait to go out there and prove to the rest of the world that he has another championship run in him.
“I feel good, I feel fresh,” Kambosos said. “I’m very hungry, very motivated. Yes, Hitchins is the new champion, but I’m looking forward to showcasing on June 14th.”