George Kambosos Jr is set for a mid-year title defence down under, with reports today that the undefeated Australian will fight in Melbourne mid-year.
Kambosos is likely to face either Vasiliy Lomachenko or Devin Haney on June 5 at Marvel Stadium – a Sunday afternoon fight card to accommodate television audiences in America.
The story was first reported by ESPN earlier this morning, including the detail that an AFL game that was set to be held that day at Marvel would be moved.
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Kambosos stunned the boxing world by ending Teofimo Lopez’s unbeaten run with a split decision win in New York in November.
Earlier today, Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella told The Sydney Morning Herald that there was no chance the champ’s next fight would be overseas.
“I can tell you now, unequivocally, that George’s first defence will be in Australia. You can take that to the bank. We want to make the biggest splash we can and that is on the instructions of the fighter,” he said.
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“When I met George, there was no television behind him, he fought for small purses, he travelled the world, he paid his dues. Now it’s time for him to reap the rewards.”
Those comments fly in the face of what one of his potential opponents expects to play out.
Although the Australian is now the WBO, WBA, and IBF lightweight champion, he has been in talks to fight the also-undefeated Haney to become the undisputed champion of their division.
“Let’s stop creating the narrative that it only can happen in Australia. Let’s open it up and let’s open up talks that it can happen anywhere in the world. It’s whoever brings the most money. Don’t you think so?” Haney’s father and manager, Bill, said.
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