George Kambosos rejects Teofimo Lopez rematch as he lines up a world-title fight with Ukraine great Vasiliy Lomachenko

On the ropes after back-to-back losses to Devin Haney, George Kambosos has proved he still has clout after rejecting a Teofimo Lopez rematch to chase a super fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko.

George Kambosos Jr has rejected a Teofimo Lopez rematch to chase a super fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko. Picture:Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

George Kambosos has rejected a rematch with Teofimo Lopez as Australia’s former unified lightweight champion closes in on a world-title blockbuster with Ukraine great Vasiliy Lomachenko.

This masthead can reveal Kambosos was offered another big-money crack at Lopez, who suffered a shock loss in November 2021 that saw ‘Ferocious’ snatch five belts in one of the greatest wins in Australian boxing history.

Lopez has since moved up to super lightweight and was keen to exact revenge at 140 pounds, but Kambosos (21-2, 10KO) has no interest in exiting the lightweight division as he eyes a showdown with Lomachenko (17-3, 11KO).

Speculation is rife that the Kambosos-Lomachenko super fight is reaching an advanced stage, with Perth’s RAC Arena, which has a capacity of 15,500, touted as one location for the world-title bout. A December or January date has been mentioned.

George Kambosos has rejected a rematch with Teofimo Lopez (far left) after his shock world-title boilover in 2021.

The IBF world-title bout would be a massive coup for Australian boxing, but Kambosos’ US-based co-promoter Lou DiBella insists talk of a Lomachenko deal is premature, saying the only certainty is Ferocious has ruled out Lopez.

“George was offered a fight with Teofimo Lopez at 140 pounds,” Hall of Fame promoter DiBella told News Corp from New York, the scene of Kambosos‘ split-decision boilover of Lopez two years ago.

“We turned down a fight at 140 (super lightweight) against Teofimo because George didn’t want to move up in weight.

“George wants to win the IBF world lightweight title.”

Kambosos and Lomachenko were originally slated to fight last year, but the Ukraine war opened the door for Devin Haney, who subsequently won back-to-back bouts to dethrone the Sydneysider.

Kambosos lost all his belts after back-to-back losses to Devin Haney.

Beltless after his twin losses to Haney in Melbourne, Kambosos reignited his career in July with a controversial win over Maxi Hughes to claim the IBO strap, his sixth world-title belt.

That win elevated Kambosos to the No. 2 ranking with the IBF, one ahead of No. 3 Lomachenko in an organisation where the No. 1 lightweight slot is vacant.

Undisputed division champion Haney is tipped to move up to super lightweight for his next fight — a scenario that would put Kambosos and Lomachenko on a collision course for the vacant IBF world title.

It is understood the IBF could formally order a Kambosos-Lomachenko world-title bout within a fortnight.

“Devin Haney is still the IBF lightweight champion, so until they (IBF) order ‘Loma’ and George, there’s no deal to be done,” DiBella said.

Kambosos reignited his career with an IBO world-title defeat of Maxi Hughes in July.

“At the moment, there’s not much we can do until Haney announces formally his 140-pound fight and the IBF formally orders George against Lomachenko.

“If the fight is ordered, we will pursue it.

“Right now, George is the leading contender and Lomachenko is next in line behind him, so if the IBF title is vacated, George would fight the next guy in line and we’re hoping that’s Lomachenko (who lost to Haney in May).

“I think something will be done very shortly.

“When the IBF decides, we’ll move forward.”

Perth and Sydney are two options, but American promoters Top Rank, who have Kambosos and Lomachenko in their stable, could push for the pair to trade blows in the US, screened by ESPN.

Kambosos’ most recent clash with Hughes was in Oklahoma and the 30-year-old says while he would relish a mega fight with Lomachenko anywhere, Ferocious craves a stadium show on Australian soil.

“I’ll fight Lomachenko next,” Kambosos said after his defeat of Hughes.

“I would love to fight Lomachenko, styles make fights and Loma is more likely to engage.

“He is more likely to throw some shots and I like to engage, it’s a big fight that I would really get up for.

“A Kambosos-Lomachenko stadium fight in Australia would be great, that’s what we were meant to do originally (before Haney).”

Kambosos hopes to next face Vasiliy Lomachenko, who also lost to Haney in his most recent fight.

Kambosos would start as a huge underdog against Lomachenko, but another upset would give him a seventh world title and the right to claim he is Australia’s greatest ever boxer.

“If that fight is ordered as a world-title fight, my understanding is that Loma would be interested in George,” DiBella said.

“It will be a matter of economically where the fight makes the most sense.

“Loma is the fight George has always wanted.

“We would love to do that fight in Australia and we’d love for it to happen in Australia, but that is partially going to be decided by the economics of the event.”

Originally published as George Kambosos rejects Teofimo Lopez rematch as he lines up a world-title fight with Ukraine great Vasiliy Lomachenko