George Kambosos Jr versus Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium: Fight poised to smash viewing records

World champion George Kambosos will create history with his unified lightweight world title bout at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium set break all viewing records in Australian boxing.

Australia’s George Kambosos will fight American Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium on June 5. Picture: Ian Currie

World champion George Kambosos will create fight history in June with his unified lightweight world championship bout with US star Devin Haney at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium set break all viewing records in Australian boxing.

As Kambosos and Haney came face-to-face for the first time via Zoom link at a star-studded launch in Melbourne, boxing industry insiders were already talking about the June 5 clash exceeding any previous records for pay-per-view figures.

George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney Undisputed World Lightweight Title will be LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 5 June. Pay-Per-View available to order soon.

Australia’s George Kambosos will fight American Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium on June 5. Picture: Ian Currie

“A historic bout of this magnitude deserves the biggest audience and we’re thrilled to be the broadcaster of choice to bring this event to Australian fans on Foxtel and Kayo Sports,” Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany said.

“We are entering a golden era in Australian boxing and we’ve been there every step of the way, building the profile of these incredibly diverse athletes.

“We are all about bringing the most popular sports and the best sporting talent on the field and in the ring to our base of 2.4 million sports subscribers. As the unrivalled home of boxing in Australia, we’re expecting continued growth of Main Event in 2022 and this Kambosos Jr v Haney fight is one of many must-watch moments for fans.”

Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum helped bring the Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn fight to Suncorp Stadium in 2017, but even he predicted Kambosos fighting on Australian soil for the first time in five years would exceed that blockbuster.

“This fight will be even bigger,” Arum said.

The Kambosos bout with US star Devin Haney is expected to smash all viewing records in Australian boxing.

“(This fight) will no doubt break pay per view records on Foxtel and Kayo Sports given the quality and stature of the fighters.”

Kambosos is keen to stage a fight in his home town of Sydney in the future, but making his Aussie return under the closed roof of Marvel Stadium with 60,000 fans and the large Greek community is a perfect homecoming for Australia’s boxing world champ to unify the division against WBC champ Haney, who is undefeated in 27 fights.

“It is good to be back home,” he said at Friday’s press conference.

“Five years I’ve been on the road, five years I’ve been doing it tough, doubted by many. I knew one day I would step into this stadium and collecting that other belt.

“Haney has the only belt missing from my collection and he will know what he‘s in for when he steps up into the lion’s den.

Kambosos punches Teofimo Lopez during their championship bout at Madison Square Garden. Picture: AFP

“I plan to not only take his belt but put a serious dent in his young career.”

Haney, who took exception to Kambosos calling him a “kid”, said he was coming to Australia to take all the belts having held the WBC title since 2019.

“First off I want to say I’m not a kid, stop calling me a kid. I’m a man and I will show him that in the ring. Respect me as a man.” Haney said.

“He can say he chose me but that is not the truth. He was forced into this fight. He did not want to fight me. Up until he did not want to sign a contract. He did not choose me, he was forced into it.

“I knew I could beat you. No matter what. I’ll fight you in your backyard if I had to and I’ll show you.”

Originally published as George Kambosos Jr versus Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium: Fight poised to smash viewing records