Undisputed lightweight champion Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney 28-0 (15) has slammed former champion George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Jr 20-1 (10) for making excuses for his first loss to the American ahead of their rematch at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday afternoon.
In June Kambosos lost his WBA, WBO and IBF 135-pound titles to Haney at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium by scores of 118-110 and 116-112 twice. Kambosos enacted the immediate rematch clause in his contract.
“He’s making up every excuse in the book,” the 23-year-old Haney said. “He said he wasn’t going to, but now they’re saying I was holding, it was this, it was that. Whatever you want to say, he can keep saying it. The talk doesn’t matter. I’m going to go in there and do what I’m going to do regardless. No matter what referee is in there, no matter where the fight is at, it doesn’t matter.”
“When I went back to that dressing room [after the first fight], my mindset changed right away,” Kambosos said. “I’m a challenger again. I wasn’t upset. I’m in a familiar place and this is where I’ve been most of my career. Doubt me? No problem. I love when they doubt me. I love when they think I have no chance. That’s okay. We’ll prove them wrong once again.”
Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella says the loss to Haney humbled his fighter, who is better prepared this time around.
“My second trip (to Melbourne) in four months,” said DiBella on the KO Boxing Show. “I love this town. What a great city and what a great place to do boxing.
“Let’s be honest. The last fight disappointed. Forget about the fact Australia didn’t get to keep the belts and George lost the fight. That happens. It wasn’t a particularly good fight. It wasn’t a pleasing fight. I think George was distracted. I think a lot of it was on George. I don’t think his eye was on the prize.
“I don’t think he was as focused as normally he is. It’s very difficult to return home a big hero and you have all the belts and everyone wants a piece of you. It gets to your head a little bit. George is a guy who has been very focused his whole career. A real spartan warrior mentality. I really believe he’s had that mentality for most of his career.
“The last fight he lost sight of that himself and he didn’t give his best effort the night of the fight. I don’t think George adjusted that night of the fight. I don’t think he sold out or went balls to the wall trying to win. I don’t think he gave everything. It wasn’t a good night.
“Fighters have an off night. The problem is when a rugby or footballer or baseball player has an off night, they have other games and that one performance doesn’t matter very much. In boxing, with one bad night you go from undisputed champion to contender. And that’s what happened to George Kambosos. That’s very humbling.
“I know he is much better prepared for this fight. He is going to do everything in his power to win. If he doesn’t win, I believe he is going to go out on his shield. Whoever is at the Rod Laver Arena is going to see a great fight.”
