How George Kambosos Jr is winding back the clock ahead of his comeback against Maxi Hughes

George Kambosos has stripped his preparation right back ahead of his comeback bout against Maxi Hughes in Las Vegas this weekend.

City Athletic Boxing Gym sits in a nondescript lot between a couple of auto repair shops and a cocktail lounge in the shadow of Trump International Hotel, a block off the glittering lights of the Las Vegas strip.

The intense desert sun has faded all the signs out front, and security cages frame the entranceway. Inside it’s a mixture of state of the art equipment and old school boxing gear.

It’s everything you’d expect from a gym that has produced a long line of world champions including Caleb Plant, Yordenis Ugas, David Benavidez and Jorge Linares.

And it’s where you’ll find George Kambosos Jr preparing for his comeback fight against England’s Maxi Hughes this weekend.

Inside the gym on a 40 degree day, Kambosos moves around the ring, narrowly dodging a makeshift boxing glove crudely attached to the end of a long stick thrust into his face by world renowned trainer Don House.

Good to catch up with @georgekambosos and check out his gym here in Vegas. Kambosos fight Maxi Hughes in two weeks. #boxingpic.twitter.com/lmF3JvFXyX

— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) July 8, 2023

In here, it’s just Kambosos, two trainers, and his dad, Jim. No entourage. No hangers on.

No unnecessary extras.

“This is full on. No f***in’ around, no bullshit, bro,” Kambosos tells this masthead, drenched in sweat. “This is what got me to the top in the first place, and this is what I’ve gotta get back to.

“This is what I lost.”

Nine months on from his second loss to Devin Haney, following a less than ideal camp, Kambosos is channelling a Rocky 3 type of vibe. He’s ditched the creature comforts of home and has regained the eye of the tiger that saw him travelling the world, beating all-comers on his way to a monumental win over Teofimo Lopez.

“You see young guys coming in here, young prospects and you see it in their eyes – they’re hungry,” he says. “They’re trying to achieve something.

“That’s where I’m back to now. I’m trying to achieve something again, so it’s a small team this time, no egos, just focused on the plan.”

Kambosos is winding back the clock ahead of his comeback. Picture: El Pics/Getty Images

That plan is two-fold.

Kambosos wants Hughes’ IBO world title, but the bigger prize is another shot at the IBF belt.

The winner of Kambosos-Hughes will be in prime position for a shot at the IBF strap when Haney moves to super-lightweight, as he’s expected to do later in the year.

“I want to continue filling the cabinet, and bringing that IBO belt back to Australia is a big goal,” he says. “But most importantly, it’s an IBF eliminator and that puts me back in contention for an IBF title.

“Once Haney vacates, which he is going to do, we’ll fight (the IBF’s number one fighter) Gustavo Lemos.”

So that’s why he’s returned to the kind of gym he trained at on his rise.

It’s no frills. There’s no expensive car out the front and no yes-men pumping him up.

It’s what he lost when he became unified lightweight champion of the world, and at least one other Australian boxing icon is sitting up and taking notice.

Tim Tszyu has plans on heading to the US too, but will have to wait after Jermell Charlo ducked him.

Until then, he’ll keep one eye on Kambosos this weekend.

“Kambosos wins easy, he’s got vengeance on his mind,” Tszyu says, taking a swipe at the doubters who say Kamobsos’ time in the spotlight is done. “I disagree, he fought Haney, who’s at the top of the tree, and that’s his only loss.

“He’s always been one hundred per cent a full professional and I think he wins this easy – I think he knocks him out.”

Originally published as How George Kambosos Jr is winding back the clock ahead of his comeback against Maxi Hughes