Boxing 2022 George Kambosos v Devin Haney: Tale of the tape, undercard, tips and latest news

George Kambosos stands on the brink of greatness if he can deny American Devin Haney to become the first undisputed lightweight world boxing champion. Everything you need to know.

George Kambosos with the Greek and Australian flags at the weigh in before arguably Australia’s biggest boxing event. Picture: Alex Coppel

Your ultimate guide to the blockbuster bout between Australia’s George Kambosos and American Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium.

The are expected to step into the ring some time after 1pm.

Our guide features the tale of the tape, what the experts predict, plus where Kambosos sees himself in Australian boxing heading into his biggest fight.

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George Kambosos and Devis Haney weigh in at Margaret Court Arena. Picture: Alex Coppel

Kambosos: I am the greatest

George Kambosos says he has dethroned Kostya Tszyu as Australia’s greatest ever boxer as “The Emperor” sets his sights on destroying Devin Haney to become the world’s undisputed lightweight champion.

Kambosos will rewrite the record books if he turns “The Dream’s” Australian debut on Sunday into a Marvel Stadium nightmare.

Victory in the world-title blockbuster will see Kambosos become just the eighth man since the birth of the four-belt era in 2004 to unify a division — and the first undisputed IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO champion at lightweight.

Kambosos (20-0, 10KO) snatched the IBF, WBA and WBO straps with his stunning boilover of Teofimo Lopez last November.

The classy Haney (27-0, 15KO), the WBC champion, holds the final piece of the undisputed puzzle.

The Russia-born Tszyu left hometown Serov at age 22, settled in Sydney, and quickly won the hearts of Australian sports fans, sealing his greatness when he clobbered Zab Judah in 2001 to unify the super-lightweight division in the three-belt era.

Tszyu (31-2, 25KO) is widely regarded as Australia’s boxing kingpin, closely followed by Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose and Johnny Famechon, but Kambosos believes he has usurped ‘The Thunder from Down Under’.

“To be honest, I am the greatest fighter Australia has ever seen,” said Kambosos, whose maiden world-title defence at Marvel is just 4km from the scene of Tszyu’s professional debut at Princes Park.

“How can you deny me?

“I love Kostya Tszyu, what a legend he was, but I am born-and-bred in Australia.

“Kostya was born in Russia and came here as a man. I came up through the Australian amateur system, I went overseas to learn my trade and I’ve beaten the best.

“Anthony ‘Choc’ Mundine, who did so much for boxing and I love him as a man, he says I am Australia’s greatest fighter ever.

George Kambosos says it’s time for the nation to see why he says he is the best boxer in the land.

“If you break it down, there is a genuine argument to say I’m Australia’s greatest ever boxer.

“Now I’m back in Australia on my home turf to defend my titles. It’s time to show the nation why I’m the greatest fighter Australia has ever seen.”

If Tszyu is Australia’s top dog, Fenech is in the grand final on the score of toughness.

The ‘Marrickville Mauler’ won world titles across three divisions and while he has enormous respect for Kambosos’ life-changing upset of Lopez, Fenech says the essence of true greatness is longevity.

“George was the hunter when he beat Lopez, now he is the hunted,” Fenech says.

“It gets more difficult from here.

“What George did that day (beating Lopez) was one of the great feats in Australian boxing history, but it was a feat. Just one.

“George has won one world-title fight. To say he’s the best ever … it’s about longevity, too.

“I defended my belts numerous times. That doesn’t say I’m better than George, but longevity is what matters, you can’t just win one fight.

“I applaud George for everything he has done to get this far and let’s hope he can defend his belts 10 times more.”

In terms of style, Haney will be a different beast to Lopez. ‘The Takeover’ was a brute at lightweight who had the power to destroy rivals. Haney is not as powerful as Lopez, but he has a fast, potent jab, light feet and the boxing IQ to get out of trouble.

In his fight against Jorge Linares last year, Haney was nearly dropped in the 10th round. He wobbled back to his corner and closed out a unanimous decision. That tells Kambosos his 23-year-old rival can be exposed in the later rounds.

“Lopez was the best lightweight in the world until I came along and beat him,” Kambosos said.

Boxer Devin Haney will prove quite a handful for Kambosos. Picture: AFP

“My style is so explosive and fast, I come from so many different angles. When I land my shots this bloke is going to crumble. I will break him down.

“The big issue is Haney’s heart. When he got hurt against Linares, he was holding on for dear life for the final two rounds. I got dropped in round 10 against Lopez, but I got up, went to war for the final two rounds and won the 11th and 12th rounds.

“It’s two different breeds.

“The critics can bag me and say I am a one-hit wonder, but if that’s the case, I should have lost after my pro debut. I’ve won 20 consecutive fights.

“There is no way Devin Haney is coming to Australia and taking all these belts away from me on my turf in front of my Greek and Australian fans.

“I will show him up, send him back to America and he will never be the same again.

“Whoever wants a shot at ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos after that, bring them on.”

Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella believes the 28-year-old will deliver a masterclass at Marvel.

“I think George now as champion can be better than he was before,” DiBella said.

“Many fighters improve with a title and this kid is confident, he is at the top of his game, he is at the top of his physical strength.

“Haney is a brilliant fighter. A prodigy. But George is incredibly conditioned and now he knows he can beat anyone.

“In his mind, he knows he is the best and that confidence will carry him through.”

Fenech says Kambosos is ready for next step

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech has backed George Kambosos to make history by beating Devin Haney and becoming the first unified lightweight champion of the four-belt era.

Fenech, an International Boxing Hall of Fame icon, believes Kambosos (20-0, 10KO) can stop Haney (27-0, 15KO), but he urged “Ferocious” to attack the American from the opening seconds of their Marvel Stadium spectacular.

“I reckon there will be a stoppage. It could be early,” Fenech said.

“Both these guys are explosive speed punchers and if one of them gets hit early, they are good finishers.

“George is like a dog with a bone and if he can sense Haney is hurt, he will be straight on to him.

“There is only one key for George. He has to make Haney fight on George’s terms.

“Haney is a magnificent boxer, so George has to be the aggressor and come out from the opening rounds on the front foot.

“George can’t respond to Haney. He has to get after the fight.”

Haney’s legendary promoter Bob Arum believes the fight will go the full 12 rounds with the 23-year-old American to edge out Kambosos on points.

“Devin is something special,” Arum said.

“He is the superior boxer and he has a great talent for balance and manoeuvrability and that goes a long way in the lighter divisions.

“Haney is very hard to tag with a good punch and that makes him a very formidable foe.

“You can’t write off Kambosos, he is a tough kid, he is very brave and a hard worker.

“The biggest challenge for George is not to expend all of his energy chasing Haney. He has to be patient and save his energy for the last part of the fight.

“If he goes chasing Haney for the first part of the fight he won’t have anything left in the later rounds.

“Haney doesn’t have a real knockout punch, so I think it will go the distance and Haney will win on points.”

Originally published as Boxing 2022 George Kambosos v Devin Haney: Tale of the tape, undercard, tips and latest news