George Kambosos Jr. believes that yesterday’s oddity between Teofimo Lopez’s father and his father shows that the championship team is brimming with ‘nervous energy’ ahead of their clash for the IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC Franchise & titles. Ring Magazine World Lightweight, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, live worldwide on DAZN.
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Kambosos Jr. (19-0 10 KOs) and Lopez (16-0 12 KOs) were desperate to get into the ring and end the long saga of their clash, which has been canceled twice since being called up with IBF mandatory placement Australian landings with victory in London over Lee Selby in October 2020.
The challenger and champion attended media practice in New York yesterday, and as their lines crossed the new Boxing Street Gym site near MSG, the teams clashed as tensions mounted between camps.
Kambosos Jr. and Lopez were the bystanders when the teams clashed, and the 28-year-old was doing all the business when he wanted to take trophies from ‘The Takeover’ in Lopez’s backyard.
“He had a lot of anxiety and fear energy,” said Kambosos Jr. “His dad was put in his place, he knew we weren’t kidding, we were here to fight, ready for war, and he tried his tail between his legs and that’s what was going to happen on Saturday night.
“If they want it, my dad is here too. We’ve all seen it, what can you do? He’s lucky my dad didn’t actually open up, otherwise he wouldn’t be in his corner on Saturday. If Eddie Hearn and Matchroom paid enough for the old men to go to work, maybe we’ll see!
“This is not a personal matter for me. Whatever delusional stories he had in mind when he wasn’t even there on June 19th, they were just lying to him and telling him what he wanted to hear. I’m focused, even with what happened to our Dad, it’s forgotten, there’s no feeling for me, I’m here to do a job.
“He came to KO me early? No problem. That’s what I want to do. However, winning means the whole world, all the sacrifice and hard work I’ve had to make, which is what will make this so special. It’s for my kids and those around me, belts are for them.
“I’m not thinking about what’s next. Ask Lopez, he thinks a million steps ahead. I just focus on him. We’ll see if Josh Taylor gives him a match where he doesn’t have any belts and loses to Aussie.
“People say it’s a long camp, but I’m always in the gym, always training and preparing. I live in the gym and don’t take a day off, so this is like every other day, I focus and maintain a view of the tunnel. When you are scrambling for all the marbles, are you going to take your foot off the pedal? Are not. I have been very patient and here we are now.
“I have a very smart team and I am very smart in what I do. This isn’t my first game, I’ve been in big fights, I’ve earned this the hard way. But we were ready, and we were smart, and the preparation was very good; no matter of exhaustion or weight, nothing, no emotions, just come here to win the fight and be a real champion. ”
