WBC lightweight titleholder Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney 27-0 (15) isn’t expecting his challenge to WBA, WBO, IBF and WBC Franchise champion George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Jr 20-0 (10) to be close.
The 23-year-old American, originally from San Francisco but boxing out of Las Vegas, is in Australia to face Sydney’s Kambosos, 28, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on June 5.
Kambosos was aiming to face former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in his first defence of his world titles but the Ukrainian southpaw became unavailable when war broke out in his home country.
Team Kambosos then opted for Haney in a clever deal that will see an immediate rematch in Australia if he loses the first fight.
Haney will be without his father and trainer Bill Haney in his corner after he was denied a visa due to a felony drug conviction 30-plus years ago that saw him serve more than a year in jail.
Haney is backing himself in to win against Kambosos twice.
“I didn’t only sign up for one fight, I signed up for two fights, so that’s how much I trust in my talent,” Haney said to Max on Boxing.
“I trust in my skills and I know that if I can beat him once, I can beat him twice in his own back in his own country, in his own land, and that’s what I’m going to do.
“I don’t think the fight will be that close, honestly. I feel I’m on a whole different level. My skillset is just different. We’re not looking for a close fight.
“We’re prepared for anything he brings to the table. I just feel that my skills are on a whole different level. So I’m not really worried about that.”
Max on Boxing host Max Kellerman asked whether Haney needed to move up in weight after being shaken up in recent fights.
“It’s boxing and you can’t swim without getting wet,” Haney replied. “Have we seen me get hurt in one fight? Yes, but that’s just boxing. I’m fighting the best fighters in the world. These fighters have two hands, two feet, just like I do.
“These fighters are punchers just like me, but I always come out on top.”
Kambosos shocked many in the boxing world when he dethroned Teofimo Lopez 16-1 (12) to claim the lightweight crown in his last bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden in November.
The winner of Kambosos-Haney will be recognised at the number one boxer in the world in the 135-pound weight class.
“Number one, it’s an undisputed fight for everything to show who is the man, who is the best in the lightweight division. They said the lightweight division is the most exciting and the best division in boxing,” Haney said.
“This is to show who is the best fighter in the lightweight division and you will see the best fighter in the division. That’s going to be me.”
I’m going to come out victorious and showcase my whole skillset.”
