George Kambosos says he is not finished as the former world champ prepares for his first fight in hometown Sydney since 2016

He shocked the boxing world with his upset of Teofimo Lopez in 2021. Now George Kambosos is returning to fight in Sydney and ‘Ferocious’ insists he can win another world title.

George Kambosos is plotting his return home - and a fightback to a championship opportunity. Picture: Getty Images

George Kambosos insists he is not a spent force as Australia’s former world champion returns home to launch another run at title glory — and a possible blockbuster re-match against Teofimo Lopez.

‘Ferocious’ Kambosos will return to the ring on March 22 against Indonesia’s ‘Boxing Senator’ Daud Yordan at Qudos Bank Arena, his first fight in Sydney since beating Brandon Ogilvie at Luna Park in December 2016.

After a 3033-day absence from his hometown, Kambosos is hoping his Sydney comeback fight will kickstart a renaissance that could lead to world-title showdowns with Richardson Hitchins and Lopez.

George Kambosos shocked the world with his defeat of Teofimo Lopez in 2021.

Kambosos shocked the boxing world with his stunning boilover of Lopez in November 2021 in New York and since then, ‘The Takeover’ has moved up in weight to win the WBO super lightweight world title.

Now Kambosos (21-3) is also moving up from lightweight to super lightweight and says his debut at 140 pounds against Yordan (43-3) will be proof he is not on the verge of retirement.

Since beating Lopez, Kambosos has lost three of his past four fights, including twin defeats to Devin Haney and his first-ever stoppage against Vasiliy Lomachenko last May in Perth, but the 31-year-old is adamant he can again scale the world-title summit.

“I’m very excited to be fighting back in my hometown of Sydney,” he said.

“The last time I fought here was eight years ago when I beat Brandon Ogilvie, so to come back after the long road I’ve taken, it’s great to come home to my people.

Kambosos insists he is not a spent force.

“I’m not finished.

“I’ve fought the best of the best and the champions are still calling me out.

“I will bounce back after Lomachenko and make a statement on March 22.

“People can criticise me, but if you don’t respect the risks I’ve taken to win the belts I have, then you don’t know s**t about boxing.”

While Yordan is not widely known to Australian audiences, the 37-year-old is a wily veteran who has won 43 of 47 fights, 31 by knockout, and is a former two-time IBO world champion.

Kambosos seemed a natural fit at lightweight but the Spartan slugger with Greek heritage said the time is right to move up in weight.

Kambosos hopes a decisive defeat of Yordan, an Indonesian Senator, will be the gateway to big-money world-title fights against Hitchins, who beat Aussie Liam Paro in December, and bitter rival Lopez.

“Yordan’s style brings danger, he is a slugger and so am I,” Kambosos said.

“You don’t have 43 victories and 31 knockouts if you’re a mug.

Kambosos suffered a heavy loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko in Perth last May.

“The older you get the harder it becomes to keep your weight down.

“I realised that in my last weight cut against Lomachenko.

“I was in the bath sitting there saying no matter what happens in this fight, I have to move up.

“When I come down to 135 (pounds), I lose muscle and a bit of myself, so 140 was the natural progression.

“When I get past this fight, I would love to fight Hitchins and win another world title and I’ve beaten up Lopez before.

“I’m still one of the biggest names in world boxing regardless of my losses. Even in my losses, I’ve gone to war and people respect that.”

Kambosos’ father and manager Jim says Ferocious can be more explosive at super lightweight.

“Moving up in weight will make George more powerful,” Kambosos Sr said.

“There’s a lot in the pipeline for George after this fight.

“There is a lot of hate between George and Hitchins, he is definitely in our sights after this fight.

“George is still a huge name worldwide.”

Originally published as George Kambosos says he is not finished as the former world champ prepares for his first fight in hometown Sydney since 2016