Devin Haney Ready to Prove Himself in Enemy Territory Against George Kambosos Jr
On June 5, WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) will make the trek down under as he will face unified lightweight champ George Kambosos Jr (20-0, 10 KOs) at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. In a contest that will be for undisputed honors at 135 pounds, it’s the kind of marquee fight Haney has been hunting for since he became a world champ. Haney has been in pursuit of Kambosos Jr ever since Kambosos captured the titles by *upsetting Teofimo Lopez in November of 2021.
A point of discussion for pundits has been the terms of the deal. For this fight to get made, Haney had to agree to fight in unified champ’s home country of Australia. Should Haney win, there is a clause in the contract that states a rematch must also take place in Australia.
The WBC champ has talked about the sacrifices his camp made at the negotiating table to make a fight with Kambosos happen. But during an appearance on The DAZN Boxing Show, Haney says he’s a student of the game with a deep understanding of the business of the sport. He told co-hosts AK and Barak he was willing to do whatever to get the opportunity. If it means being the B-side to Kambosos Jr and fighting on the road, so be it.
DOING WHATEVER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
“It is what it is. He paid his cost to be the boss. He beat the so-called man, so now I’m doing what I gotta do to become the man and trust in my skills. After this, I’m going to come out on top, and the world ain’t going to have nothing to say.”
Haney went on to say he’s unbothered about fighting on enemy territory. His main concern was getting neutral judges and having strict drug testing. He got the neutral judges he sought out and the fight will be under the VADA drug testing protocols.
After initially being very cordial, tensions have grown between the two world lightweight title holders. Given that animosity and with so much at stake, Haney is cutting no shorts as far as his preparation.
RAISING THE BAR
“It’s crazy; my training has been on a totally different level. Mentally, it’s different. I’m training for 3-4 hours, and I don’t even get tired. It’s something that I can’t stop because I’m so ready. Everything that I’ve been waiting for […] Only six people has done this in history. I’m 23-years-old, and I could be doing this now, so early in my career. I can only thank God for it.”
Kambosos is not only riding a wave of confidence from his victory over Lopez, but he will also have tens of thousands of Aussies passionately cheering for him in what will be a packed Marvel Stadium. For Haney to win, he must be at his level best. He plans on doing just that as he is intent on having his hands raised in victory and leaving the ring as the undisputed lightweight champion of the world.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
