Boxing 2022: Jeff Horn tells George Kambosos to chase rematch and get revenge on Devin Haney

Former world champion Jeff Horn has urged George Kambosos to activate a rematch clause and chase redemption against Devin Haney in the wake of his crushing unification defeat.

Former world champion Jeff Horn has urged George Kambosos to activate a rematch clause and chase redemption against Devin Haney in the wake of his crushing unification defeat.

While Kambosos was outclassed by Haney at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, the Australian has the contractual power to demand a return bout as part of a two-fight deal that lured ‘The Dream’ Down Under.

There is a view Kambosos would be at long odds of exacting revenge against the classy Haney, who believes there is no tactical adjustment the Sydney slugger can make to reclaim the belts he lost in his maiden world-title defence.

But Horn - the man who shocked the world by beating Manny Pacquiao in their Suncorp Stadium epic in 2017 - says he is living proof that Kambosos can rise again.

George Kambosos lost a unanimous points decision to Devin Haney.

Two years after upsetting Pacquiao, Horn was towelled up by Michael Zerafa in a Bendigo belting. ‘The Hornet’ activated a rematch clause. He bounced back just four months later, producing the famous ninth-round ‘Hail Mary’ punch that dropped Zerafa and secured a points victory in their bloody Battle of Brisbane.

Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella believes a rematch could take place in October or November this year and Horn said ‘Ferocious’ must back himself to have the last laugh against Haney.

“I think George should take the rematch,” Horn said.

“I definitely showed against Zerafa you can come back and win a rematch and I did it after being stopped in our first fight.

“George can definitely upset Haney in a rematch, but he has to knuckle down and change his entire game plan to have any hope of beating him.

“As a fighter, you want to avenge a loss and I have no doubt George will want another shot at Haney later in the year.”

Jeff Horn got revenge over Michael Zerafa in December 2019.

Horn attacked Pacquiao from the opening seconds of his world-title boilover and he believes Kambosos must do the same to Haney in a rematch.

“George has to do what I did to Pacquiao where I got in his face,” Horn said.

“Kambosos has to upset his range. He stood too much in the mid-range and that enabled Haney to just jab him. That set the whole fight up for Haney to comfortably win a points decision and George didn’t do much during the fight to shake things up.

“It was a dominant performance from Haney. George tried hard but he didn’t have the right strategy to beat Haney at his game. Haney has a brilliant jab and that just controlled the fight.

Kambosos’ father and manager Jim said: “We had to put more pressure on Devin. George had to start fast and make Devin uncomfortable, rather than play catch up. Haney just banked the rounds.”

Zerafa celebrates his win over Horn in August 2019.

As Kambosos graciously walked over to hand his WBO, WBA, WBC Franchise, IBF and Ring belts to Haney, Horn could feel his pain.

“I’ve been there. My heart sank for George,” he said.

“It would have been great to see a unified champion in Australia, but Haney was just too good.

“I know the Kambosos camp felt it was close but I gave the majority of the rounds to Haney.

“George strived for greatness and fell short, but I hope he picks up the pieces and has another red-hot crack against Haney.”