If George Kambosos Jr has learned anything in 2021, it’s that you need a good lawyer to navigate the often murky and unpredictable environment that is the world of boxing.
But, after a couple of false starts, the Australian is now just days away from the biggest battle of his career: a showdown with the unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs).
The plot of this fight is a bit like a badly written Hollywood TV series, but unfortunately for the Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs), it’s very much a reality.
Lopez’s positive COVID-19 test just days from their June 19 fight, disagreements over dates and changes of venue, complete dissolution of the deal with original promoters Triller, a subsequent lawsuit , and both personal joys and sorrows have made 2021 a “roller coaster ride” for the 28-year-old challenger.
But where others may have stepped out of daily practice, Kambosos says his focus has never wavered, and that he’s ready to amaze the world and make history Australian boxing history.
“Mentally, everyone knows that the Kambosos are strong,” he told ESPN. “I’m very patient and work every day, day after day, and I know that every day I will get better and better. And when the fight comes, I will be 110% ready.
“I see it as a war of attrition, day by day you have to face yourself to get better – that’s how I see it. I’ve got that unbreakable mindset. If I go back Back eight weeks ago, I gave birth to my third child, my son, and on the same day my grandfather, George Kambosos, passed away.But I still trained that day, that’s the kind of fighter I am.
When Kambosos found out that Lopez had tested positive, he was staying at his hotel in Miami to wait for the fight, but he said he still went and trained after hearing the news.
“I haven’t taken my foot off the pedals since forever,” said Kambosos. “That’s how I’ve always done it.” “People say it’s a long preparation, they ask ‘Are you exhausted?’, and I say ‘This is too big to be exhausting.’ This is something I’ve been pursuing since I was 11 years old when I first stepped foot in the boxing gym.”
While Lopez’s positive coronavirus test started a chain of events that brought lawyers into play, it also provided an opportunity for Kambosos to return home to Australia as discussions about the date change took place.
He was forced to implement a two-week hotel quarantine that was in place for any Australians returning at the time – something the country’s UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now all too used to – but otherwise of that time, Kambosos was reunited with his family.
And that, he said, only fueled his desire to stay on the course to pursue the WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC and Ring Magazine lightweight titles.
“When I come back home to see my kids, it really reinforces that motivation, that inspiration,” explains Kambosos. “As I walked away from them, I said ‘you know what, Teofimo Lopez kid, he takes all this for granted’.
“He took a lot of time, special time with my kids, at a time when they’ve grown up so much; it took me about a week and a half to get things back on track. [family routine] because they have changed so much.
“And even now, my new baby, he’s 7-8 weeks old, he changes every day and I can’t be there. That’s your sacrifice.
“But that inspiration, when I saw them, and kept pushing through and honing each day, it kind of ignited another spark; it wasn’t that I needed the spark or the fire anymore, but it ignited the fire. burn it more I said I’ll get this baby [Lopez] and when I catch him, he will pay for all this. “
While a new date, November 27th – and promoter, Matchroom Boxing – was finally secured early last month, Kambosos was left out by experience dealing with the fight’s original promoter, Triller.
Allegations of breach of contract and disagreement seen Kambosos launches legal action against Triller, when IBF then defaulted to the video sharing social network business and newcomers cheer the sport of the right stage fight.
The Kambosos lawsuit is ongoing, as is the Australian way of learning when it comes to the business side of boxing.
“One thing I’ve learned is that you have to have a good legal team with you, the right people for you, and I have a very good team around me,” he told ESPN. “But sometimes things happen that are out of your control, one thing from the champ and the whole thing goes sour.
“From the legal side of things, at this stage I’m not focused on any of that; I’m sure there’s going to be a lot going on between Triller and IBF, but that’s not even even that. I’m focused on winning this war, winning these belts in a great promotion like the one advertised at Eddie Hearn’s Arena and bringing these belts back back to Australia and bring back some great matches Down Under [afterwards].
When Kambosos made a splash in the Australian boxing scene, his rejection was aimed at a local market dominated by former footballers for a quick buck in boxing.
He respects the achievement of his compatriot Tim Tszyu – the young middleweight has taken another step closer to the world belt wars with Win Takeshi Inoue in Sydney last week – but Kambosos said his journey to mandatory rival IBF has taken a hard hit overseas.
After a slow time, people finally realized it.
“This is huge, and the support when I’m back in Australia is huge. Wherever I go, when the fight is looking for a new day, people say ‘when the war goes on, the day’s going on,'” what’s new”, everyone is excited and super excited,” said Kambosos.
“Social media wise, it’s gone crazy, everyone can’t wait for this fight. And it’s huge, not just in Australian boxing but in Australian sports history, and the way I’ve been. do, I actually earned it the hardest way.
“And it’s another pot of fish [to Tim Tszyu] – I’m fighting the undisputed champion and the guy with all the belts, Fighter of the Year 2020, a top 5 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, that’s the guy that I’m fighting against, not a guy there to make them look good, that they’re promoting a certain agenda.
“Australia will know when I go home with all the belts the emperor of Australian boxing is.”
However, when the bell rings on Saturday night, all that building, the distractions and drama, the push for more recognition in his homeland, will be forgotten.
And Kambosos has always remained steadfast in the belief that there is only one outcome to come in New York City.
“In theory, it was a very good match,” he said when asked to describe the match. “This is a fight between two of the best lightweight athletes in the world. You’ve got the current No. 1, who has all the belts, who is the 2020 Fighter of the Year after he caused shock [Vasiliy] Lomachenko. And on the other hand you’ve got challenger #1, the must-have, who’s got his required spot, he’s not only got it, I’ve got to go and win by beating one Another #1 challenge in Lee Selby at home. So this was an explosive shootout.
“But most believe I do things better; I’m faster, I’m more explosive. They talk about his punching power, but anyone who’s been in those ropes with me knows the strength first-hand. The punch I had was controversial with young middleweight and heavyweight competitors and they couldn’t believe how hard I was hitting so everything I did got better.
“Even if they want to do the old fashioned 15 rounds, I’ll do 15 rounds if they want to. We’re ready, we’re ready for a big win and shock the world. Many people believe in it. I, many people don’t believe in me, but the most important thing is that I believe in myself. And when you have that confidence and bravery, that’s what makes a champion.”
