Devin Haney Says George Kambosos ‘Is Desperate’

Devin Haney returns to Australia to face George Kambosos Jr. in a rematch. From an emotional point of view, it’s a completely different situation than when they faced each other in June, when Haney won convincingly despite consenting to a group of adverse factors.

The undefeated American Devin “The Dream”” Haney (28-0-0, 15 KOs) and Australian George “Ferocious” Kambosos Jr. (20-1-0, 10 KOs) will meet again in the main event on Saturday, October 16^th (15^th in the United States), at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The event will be televised by ESPN and ESPN+.

Now, for the second time, Haney will once again have almost the entire crowd supporting Kambosos (20-1-0, 10 KOs) – and consequently the indisputable pressure exerted on the “respectable” judges’ assessment. This time the American will have his entire team with him, including his father and coach who didn’t arrive on the Mainland Island until a few hours before the previous match due to difficulties with his visa.

Another aspect that may favor the twenty-three-year-old Haney is the enormous desire that Kambosos Jr. has to recover the three belts that he won from Teofimo Lopez that Haney snatched from him by unanimous decision in June at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

This eagerness to emerge victorious could lead Kambosos Jr. to make tactical errors, to launch a suicidal attack, without a solid defense. Without a doubt, Haney will take advantage of this and conquer Kambosos Jr. for the second time, thus keeping the four belts (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) in his possession.

Haney himself stated that Kambosos Jr. “is desperate” and even the Australian has repeatedly said that if he suffers another setback, he could hang up the gloves for good.

“Australia has been great. Definitely better than the first time, having my full team and my dad here. I’m excited about the fight. I’ve been preparing great and I can’t wait,” said Devin Haney with obvious satisfaction.

Haney expressed that he will again depend on his boxing abilities to achieve victory, regardless of the strategy that Kambosos Jr. uses this time.

“I think my game plan kept Kambosos from his best attributes in the first fight, which I will do again in the second fight. We just got to see. I know he’s going to come up with a different approach and a different game plan this time around.

“We can always get better. His game plan will be a little bit different and he will try to be a little scrappy. He’s desperate. He said if he didn’t win, he’s going to retire. I’m just going to go in there and stick to my game plan, and how it plays out is how it plays out. I’m prepared for a good fight. I’m much stronger than even the last fight,” Haney said.

HANEY SILENCED THE CROWD IN JUNE

With a good boxing performance and for a good part of the confrontation with Kambosos Jr, Haney silenced the more than 40,000 fans who attended Marvel Stadium. Throughout the fight, Haney used his jab and quick defensive movements, which his opponent had a difficult time deciphering.

Although Haney dominated from start to finish, judges Zoltan Enyedi (Hungary) and Benoit Russell (Canada) awarded votes of just 116-112 in favor of the American. The decision was also backed by Pawel Kardyni (Poland) with a score of 118-110, which was a more accurate score considering what actually transpired in the ring.

Unable to connect solidly due to the masterful performance of his opponent, Kambosos Jr. conceded defeat and immediately opened the doors to a second challenge. One of the clauses of the contract which Haney had to sign in order to make the fight happen established that in case of a Haney victory -as it so happened- the rematch would take place in Australian territory.

“This was amazing for the sport. It was amazing for the country,” Kambosos Jr. twenty-eight, said after the fight and while still in the ring. “At the end of the day, I wanted to take the best and hardest tests. I’m going to give him full respect after his victory today. Let him have his time, and we’ll do it again.”

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