Haney's bold claim after Kambosos beat down

2 years ago 93

American Devin Haney remains the undisputed lightweight boxing champion aft outclassing erstwhile titleholder George Kambosos Jr. yet again successful Melbourne.

Despite sustaining a chopped connected the close broadside of his look during the eighth round, the 23-year-old Haney was ascendant portion claiming a unanimous points determination implicit the Australian.

The unbeaten American has won 29 fights, 15 of them by knockout, and has unified the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight belts.

Haney outpointed Kambosos, who claimed the 4 titles successful an upset triumph implicit Teofino Lopez astatine Madison Square Garden past November, successful Melbourne successful June erstwhile claiming the lightweight belts for the archetypal time.

Haney proved to beryllium the amended boxer again with different triumph implicit Kambosos, who sustained cuts nether his near oculus and supra his close receptor which near him bloodied precocious successful the fight.

Haney's near jab was the quality successful the archetypal fight, but helium demonstrated his versatility erstwhile utilizing his close manus to large effect successful their 2nd meeting.

A decisive victor, Haney was awarded a 118-109 verdict by 1 judge, portion the different 2 judges rated him a 118-110 victor.

When Haney won the archetypal bout successful June, The Ring mag published its pound-for-pound rankings connected August 25, and the American was obscurity to beryllium seen successful the apical ten, contempt being the youngest ever undisputed champ.

Even chap lightweight Vasiliy Lomachenko, who past fought connected December 11, was named.

"I should decidedly beryllium successful the pound-for-pound rankings," Haney said post-fight.

"In the archetypal combat they said each I had was my jab - contiguous I came successful and I showed them my close hand, I showed however versatile I am.

"I came to Australia not erstwhile but twice, I honoured it and bushed the antheral successful his hometown twice.

"I went successful determination and knew helium was looking to the jab. We wanted to amusement immoderate much tools successful my arsenal. I deliberation the close manus won the combat tonight," Haney added. "He is simply a warrior. I instrumentality my chapeau disconnected to George Kambosos and each the Australians who came out.

A 2nd consecutive decision raises questions astir the aboriginal of the 29-year-old boxer known arsenic "Ferocious" Kambosos, who fell to a 20-2 grounds with the loss.

Kambosos said successful the lead-in to their 2nd combat that helium would discontinue if beaten by Haney again, though helium aboriginal walked backmost connected that statement.

He said it "was not the end" aft the nonaccomplishment erstwhile praising Haney.

"He is simply a large fighter. For me, to person the guts to spell again with him. He gave maine a bully boxing acquisition successful the archetypal round," helium said. "He is simply a slick man. I gave my best. I tried my bosom retired tonight. But this feline is going to beryllium determination for a agelong time.

"I gave him a large challenge. A large combat implicit 24 rounds. He is 1 of the champion successful the satellite successful boxing, not conscionable this division."

Boxing from the reddish corner, the Australian started the combat well, pinning his rival connected the ropes with a flurry of punches soon earlier the doorbell rang to extremity the archetypal round.

But the American responded good successful the pursuing circular arsenic helium started to instrumentality control.

The Las Vegas nonmigratory landed immoderate beardown punches during the 3rd circular and looked progressively comfy connected some the violative and defensive.

Haney managed his region well, contempt the efforts from Kambosos, utilizing his near jab to large effect portion besides showing large accomplishment with his right.

He was capable to widen his pb successful the 5th circular contempt the Sydney-based boxer landing immoderate decent assemblage shots.

Having opened up a chopped nether the Australian's near eye, Haney peppered Kambosos with a bid of jabs successful the seventh round.

With Jim Kambosos, the Australian's father, urging the challenger to rise "the pressure," helium went aft the titleholder with vigor successful the eighth round.

It was his champion series since the second stages of the archetypal round, but by that signifier lone a knockout would beryllium capable to unafraid Kambosos triumph successful the 12-round fight.

Sensing a imaginable momentum shift, the assemblage astatine Rod Laver Arena rallied down the Australian, who was capable to unfastened a chopped connected the right-hand broadside of Haney's face. But Haney responded by re-asserting his superiority.

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