George Kambosos to shatter purse, attendance records in world title fight in Australia

Unified boxing world champion George Kambosos will shatter several records after revealing he will defends his titles in Australia against one of two superstars.

George Kambosos after shocking Teofimo Lopez. Picture: Al Bello/Getty/AFP

George Kambosos has declared he has clinched the biggest fight in Australian boxing history with his maiden world-title defence to deliver a mega $10 million payday for the unbeaten lightweight champion.

News Corp can reveal Kambosos will celebrate the biggest windfall for an Australian boxer when he defends his WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring belts at Melbourne’s 53,000-capacity Marvel Stadium in June.

‘Ferocious’ Kambosos stunned the fight game in November with his epic split-decision victory over raging favourite Teofimo Lopez in an offshore boilover that earned the Sydney-born slugger $2m and propelled him into the world boxing stratosphere.

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Now Kambosos stands to earn five times as much - and put Australian boxing back on the global map - when he returns Down Under for the first time in five years to face either Vasiliy Lomachenko or Devin Haney in a Melbourne world-title super fight.

Kambosos pocketed a paltry $800 and even sold tickets for his first-ever professional fight at the Croatian Club in Punchbowl nine years ago in his dream to become the king of his craft.

Now the 28-year-old has hit the most lucrative jackpot in Australian boxing, although no amount of millions will distract Kambosos (20-0, 10KO) as he prepares for his inaugural domestic world-title defence.

George Kambosos after shocking Teofimo Lopez. Picture: Al Bello/Getty/AFP

“This fight will break records in Australia. It will break attendance records and in terms of money, it will be Australia’s biggest ever fight,” Kambosos said.

“I’m the A-side for this fight and I have never seen this kind of money, but this is why I did the hard road.

“I’ve fought for $10,000 in America, so I’m not driven by the money. The motivation is to fight for my family and make sure they are safe and healthy.

“I’m very excited. This is huge, this is something I have planned for many years. I took the hardest road ever in the history of boxing. I created something that has never been done before in the history of Australian boxing.

Undefeated American Devin Haney.

“For so many years, I was on the road. I was in enemy territory. I went against the grain like a Spartan warrior fighting against the crowds and my opponents who had the local support.

“Now it’s my turn. Every punch I throw I know the Aussie audience will be behind me and I will be throwing punches with bad intentions.

“I promised I would beat Lopez and bring the belts home and now I am bringing back the biggest fight in Australian history.”

Kambosos will finalise his world-title opponent within a fortnight.

Ukrainian Lomachenko (16-2, 11KO) was widely considered the premier pound-for-pound boxer on the planet before Lopez stripped him of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts that Kambosos now holds.

American Haney (27-0, 15KO) has the WBC belt and was impressive in his disposal of Joseph Diaz in December, just seven days after Kambosos stunned Lopez.

There is a view Lomachenko would be too classy for Kambosos, but ‘Ferocious’ scoffed at suggestions his world-title triumph was a fluke.

“Whether I fight Lomachenko or Haney, the Americans will see me as the underdog and that’s the way I love it,” he said.

“I don’t fear any man. They all bleed. I don’t fear Lomachenko or Haney or anyone.

George Kambosos lands a right hand bomb on Teofimo Lopez. Picture: Al Bello/Getty/AFP

“I have the eye of the tiger. There is a view circulating that I fluked it, that I didn’t deserve this, but I want to show the world I am the real deal. Every fight I have been doubted, but I will prove the critics wrong again.

“There are some deals on the table. Money is obviously the factor for any fighter. Lomachenko is very easy to deal with, while Devin thinks he is worth more than what he actually is. He is talking a big game Devin, but I would love to splatter that face all across the ring.

“I will get to do that to one of them in June.

“Negotiations are ongoing but the one certainty is the fight will be in Australia. The date and venue is locked in and in the next two weeks, I will have my opponent locked in.

“Lomachenko or Haney will have to come into my lion’s den and take these belts.

“Let’s see which guy is prepared to do that.

“I would fight both of them on the same day if I could. I really would. I’m feeling that good and one by one, I will take them all down.”