MELBOURNE: Australian George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Friday vowed to “shock the world again” against American favourite Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney when they meet in a hotly-anticipated clash to become the undisputed lightweight champion.
Both fighters are unbeaten heading into their blockbuster showdown in front of an expected 50,000 fans at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Sunday, with the WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC belts all on the line for the first time in modern boxing history.
“It’s been a long, hard journey, everyone knows that, but I’m ready for Sunday and I will shock the world again,” said Kambosos, 28, in his pre-fight press conference. “Underdog, beautiful, we’re ready.
“I’ve been through it all and whatever comes to the table, I’m ready, fully prepared. We’re (his team) a warrior,” he added.
“I’m the top dog and after Sunday I will remain the top dog.”
Kambosos, who honed his craft as a former sparring partner of the great Manny Pacquiao, defeated Lee Selby in London in 2020 to earn a crack at WBA, IBF and WBO champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in November, and grabbed his chance with both hands.
In a close and bloody slugfest, he upset the American in a stunning split decision victory as a heavy underdog to leave him with the three 135-pound straps.
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Sydneysider Kambosos had originally been in talks to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko in his first title defence, but the plans fell through when the Ukrainian opted to stay in his homeland after Russia invaded.
Instead, the opportunity came to Haney, who easily defended his WBC lightweight title for a fourth time in December, winning by a unanimous decision over challenger Joseph Diaz in a 12-round clash in Las Vegas.
It raised the highly-rated 23-year-old’s phenomenal record to 27-0 with 15 KOs, to Kambosos’ 20-0-10.
Levels above
San Francisco-born Haney goes into the bout as the bookmakers’ favourite but with one big disadvantage – his father and lead trainer Bill will not be ringside after being denied a visa to Australia over a three-decade-old drug conviction.
But he is unperturbed and fired up to take all four belts back to the United States.
“This is the biggest stage and something that I’ve dreamed about. I knew that one day I would be here, I didn’t think it would come this early,” he said. “But I’m thankful and it’s time.”
Kambosos has ratcheted up the mind games over the last week, blasting Haney as an “informant, a snitch and a rat” for sending him messages with details about the Lopez camp ahead of that bout. Haney dismissed him as an “actor”.
“He can say what he wants to say, I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do when we step into that ring and I will come out victorious by any means,” said Haney.
“I feel like I’m the far better fighter,” he added. “I have far more skills than him and I’ll show it on Sunday. I’m levels above.”
On a bumper undercard, Australian two-time bantamweight world title challenger Jason ‘Mayhem’ Moloney (23-2) takes on Filipino Aston Palicte (28-4-1) in a 10-rounder for the vacant WBO International bantamweight crown.
Meanwhile, Lucas Browne (30-3) meets New Zealand contender Junior Fa (19-1) over 10 rounds for the IBF international heavyweight title.
Browne, who holds the WBA Oceania belt, is a former holder of the WBA (regular) heavyweight title and wants to put himself back in the picture.
Fa is also looking to get back on track after losing to former world champion Joseph Parker in February last year, the only defeat of his professional career.
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