Via Max Schramm: Undisputed lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. said he’ll be on a scouting mission this weekend by attending the game between Devin Haney and Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz Jr. on Saturday the match between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz on Sunday.
(Credit: Ed Mulholland / Matchroom or Melina Pizano / Matchroom)
According to the undefeated Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs), he wanted to see which boxer had the best ‘Battle of the Year’ performance that could motivate him to pick that one.
Haney-Diaz and Gervonta-Cruz will audition to fight the Kambosos. Haney and Diaz Jr seemed amused, but Gervonta wasn’t nearly as excited.
When asked about the possibility of fighting Kambosos next, Tank (25-0, 24 KOs) said he’s not interested in fighting for his belt, but he’ll give him a day salary if that’s what he wants.
Kambosos is ready to fight again
“I feel so fresh; I feel very good. I’ve recovered,” George Kambosos said Thursday in an interview with Eddie Hearn at Matchroom Boxing.
“If one of them [Devin Haney or Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz Jr] Kambosos said. “I will use the same shorts that I used for [Teofimo] Lopez, even if they’re full of blood.
“Look, a lot of people didn’t believe in me. Maybe 99% of the world doesn’t believe me, and they think they’re going to get rid of me in the first round. But the most important person I trust is obviously my team, but the most important is still myself.
“I believed like crazy. And I didn’t change during the preparation. I know I will beat this kid [Teofimo] and took everything off of him, and that’s what I did. Everyone said, ‘It’s a battle, it’s a fight, it’s a hard fight and win the war.
“Honestly, I feel very fresh. I don’t feel it’s an uphill battle. I live for this, and I love this — the blood, the kills, the back and forth. I am a warrior. I am a Spartan warrior.
“For me, I would do this weekly if I had to. Lopez was able to stop any other lightweight in the world at the time, but not Kambosos. I’m ready to do what I have to,” Kambosos said as he was knocked out by Teofimo in the tenth round.
As he defeated Kambosos today in an interview, it would be a bad idea to see him return to the ring any time soon, especially without facing a fighter like Tank Davis.
Haney-Diaz and Gervonta-Cruz audition for TV series Kambosos
“I was about to die in that ring on Saturday night, and it was a scary thought because I have three children,” said Kambosos.
Kambosos said during Saturday’s match between WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney and Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz Jr. “For me, it’s a scouting mission and who’s going to do it.
“As a fighting fan, I was delighted to be there and watch them fight, and both are really talented lads. I can’t wait to see more shows,” Kambosos said of the battle between Haney and Diaz at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
“The important thing now is that I’m in the driver’s seat. I want action; I want the Fight of The Year candidates; that’s what i’m looking for. I want to give my fans value for their money and I’m not here to touch and run around and play games.
“All these people, they wanted the footage, and they had to show me something,” Kambosos said on Haney, Diaz, Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz. “They really have to show me, and it will be a battle.
“That was definitely the plan, to bring it home. I’ve been on the road since 2017 and I haven’t been in Australia for such a long time, and that’s always been the plan.
“Let’s do it in the hard years, earn it the hard way, and when we have everything, and we win the world championship, we’ll be back. [to Australia] and fill 80,000 people in one stadium,” said Kambosos.
It’s easy to predict which of the four boxers will have the most impressive performance this weekend. Gervonta has the most interesting style of the four, and he’s also the most dangerous for someone like Kambosos.
Haney will likely rush in to beat Jojo Diaz Jr on Saturday, so it’s unlikely he’ll be picked by the Kambosos.
The only way for Haney to be chosen by the Kambosos is if his promoter Eddie Hearn can use his powers of persuasion to tell him to join the fight.
Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez are in a union
“This is exciting, this is good for the division, and I have full respect for everyone in the division,” Kambosos said. “The same goes for Lopez; I never respected him. I showed him my respect, but I have to do my job in the ring.
“He’s still on the mixed list if he wants to, but I’m looking to watch the weekend battle, The Tank [vs. Isaac Cruz] battle.
“Ryan Garcia, hopefully he will stop going missing and come back, Lomachenko and Commey too. They are great battles. It all depends on who shows off the most now.
“Australia, they are still celebrating. I haven’t even celebrated,” Kambosos said of the win over Teofimo. “I have not dared to drink one. I was too focused on the media, but they are still celebrating and enjoying this.
“Like I said, this is not just my world title but their world title as well as that of Greece. There are big plans down there, and obviously, you also have big plans. It will be an exciting 2022,” said Kambosos.
As Kambosos says, Ryan Garcia and Teofimo have a chance to be picked by him for the next fight.
Kambosos promoter Lou DiBella said on Thursday that he feels Ryan Garcia will attract more fans than Haney.
However, Ryan didn’t participate because DiBella said he would need to get back in the ring and start fighting soon, and he is unlikely to do so. Ryan hasn’t fought since January of last year and he is due to have arm surgery due to a post-match injury.
It probably doesn’t matter that Kambosos says that Teofimo (16-1, 12 KOs) is still running as he has said he is not interested in a rematch as he plans to move to 140.
Even if Kambosos volunteered to go to 140, Teofimo would still not fight him. He will try to rebuild himself after his defeat and it may take some time before he starts fighting against quality opponents again.
