George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney explained

Fight Date:June 5, 2022
Fighter2:Devin Haney
Titles:WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles
Recognition2:WBC lightweight champion
Style2:Orthodox
Weight2:134.92 lbs
Height2:5 ft 8 in
Hometown2:San Francisco, California, US
Record2:27–0 (15 KO)
Nickname2:The Dream
Recognition1:WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight champion
Fight Name:Undisputed
Hometown1:Sydney, Australia
Style1:Orthodox
Weight1:134.49 lbs
Height1:5 ft 8+1/2 in
Record1:20–0 (10 KO)
Nickname1:Ferocious
Fighter1:George Kambosos Jr
Location:Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Result:Haney wins via 12-round unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110)

George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney, billed as Undisputed, was a lightweight unification professional boxing match contested between WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring champion, George Kambosos Jr, and WBC champion, Devin Haney. The bout took place on 5 June 2022, at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. Haney defeated Kambosos via unanimous decision to become the first undisputed lightweight champion since Pernell Whitaker in 1990, and the first in the four-belt era.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Background

After defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko in October 2020, Teófimo López claimed to have become the undisputed champion in the lightweight division. However, many boxing purists rejected López's claim, believing Devin Haney had the legitimate WBC lightweight title, meaning that there was still not an undisputed lightweight champion. Haney called out López for a bout to end the debate, which did not materialise. Haney was set to be ordered to face fellow American lightweight Ryan Garcia, which Garcia dismissed, instead advocating for a bout with Gervonta Davis.[5] Haney then agreed to a title defence against Jorge Linares, winning by unanimous decision.

Meanwhile, López was forced to a mandatory defence against Australian George Kambosos Jr, which was originally set for 5 June in Miami, Florida, before being moved to 19 June. López then tested positive for COVID-19, and after multiple setbacks, the fight was finally set for 27 November in New York City, New York. In one of the biggest upsets of 2021, Kambosos Jr defeated López via split decision, winning the unified lightweight titles in the process.

On 15 October, Ryan Garcia was forced to pull out of his bout with Joseph Diaz, and Devin Haney agreed to step in and face Diaz on 5 December in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Haney winning by unanimous decision. Haney then called out Kambosos Jr, who had defeated López the week before, to determine an undisputed lightweight champion. However, there was another man in the lightweight division looking for Kambosos Jr's titles: Vasiliy Lomachenko, who defeated Richard Commey on 11 December in New York. A potential bout with Lomachenko seemed more likely for Kambosos Jr, as a two-fight deal was agreed without any problems on 15 February 2022.[6] However, on 24 February, Russia invaded Lomachenko's country of Ukraine, with Lomachenko heading over to Ukraine in order to defend his country, as well as unified heavyweight champion and fellow Ukrainian, Oleksandr Usyk.[7] On 20 March, Lomachenko was given permission to leave Ukraine in order to start training for a potential bout with Kambosos Jr. However, Lomachenko declined, opting to stay and fight for his country.[8] This resulted in Kambosos Jr–Haney talks advancing, and on 27 March, the pair struck a deal, which included Haney signing a two-fight deal with Top Rank and Lou DiBella to fight exclusively on ESPN platforms. The deal includes a rematch clause if Haney wins, with the rematch also taking place in Australia. Even if Haney lost, his next bout afterward would be co-promoted by Top Rank and DiBella.[9]

Fight card

Weight ClassvsMethodRoundTimeNotes
Lightweight Devin Haney (c)def. George Kambosos Jr. (c)UD12
Bantamweightdef.TKO3 (10)2:35
Heavyweightdef.TKO1 (10)1:58
Heavyweightdef. Christian Ndzie TsoyeRTD1 (8)
Cruiserweightdef. Karim Maatalla UD5
Super flyweightdef. Alexander EspinozaRTD2 (8)3:00
Junior Middleweight Amari Jonesdef. Ankush Hooda TKO2 (6)
Junior Middleweight Terry Nickolasvs Lachlan HigginsMD6
Junior Middleweight Isaias Sette vs Luke Gersbeck MD4
Junior Lightweight Pom Thanawut Phetkum def. Hussein FayadUD4
Super flyweightdef. Sarah HigginsonUD5
Welterweight Yoel Angeloni def. Ken AitkenUD4




See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022-03-27 . Kambosos-Haney official for June in Melbourne . 2022-04-12 . ESPN.com . en . 2022-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407064026/https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/33609716/george-kambosos-devin-haney-agree-june-undisputed-lightweight-title-fight . live .
  2. Web site: Foster . Elliot . 27 August 2022 . Devin Haney Dumps Ring Magazine Belt . 8 June 2023 . Boxing Social .
  3. Web site: 5 June 2022 . Devin Haney puts on a masterclass on George Kambosos Jr. to become undisputed lightweight champion . 8 June 2023 . .
  4. Web site: 2 June 2022 . Explained: All the belts, titles on line and why this fight means so much in boxing's 'fractured' world . 8 June 2023 . .
  5. Web site: 2021-01-07 . Ryan Garcia rejects Devin Haney as Gervonta Davis clash opens up . 2022-04-12 . World Boxing News . en . 2021-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210107185417/https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2021/01/07/ryan-garcia-haney-gervonta-davis/ . live .
  6. Web site: Compton . Tim . 2022-02-15 . Vasiliy Lomachenko agrees to deal for George Kambosos Jr fight on June 5th in Australia . 2022-04-12 . www.boxing247.com . en-US . 2022-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220219073407/https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/vasiliy-lomachenko-agrees-to-deal-for-george-kambosos-jr-fight-on-june-5th-in-australia/212685 . live .
  7. Web site: Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk among Ukrainian fighters returning home amid Russian invasion . 2022-04-12 . www.sportingnews.com . 28 February 2022 . en . 2022-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220406051101/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/boxing/news/vasiliy-lomachenko-oleksandr-usyk-ukrainian-fighters-russian-invasion/lpxrsuoseanwnevsrph29rrx . live .
  8. Web site: 2022-03-21 . Lomachenko staying in Ukraine, out vs. Kambosos . 2022-04-12 . ESPN.com . en . 2022-04-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220411184329/https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/33566622/vasiliy-lomachenko-decides-stay-ukraine-bout-george-kambosos . live .
  9. Web site: 2022-03-27 . Kambosos-Haney official for June in Melbourne . 2022-04-12 . ESPN.com . en . 2022-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407064026/https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/33609716/george-kambosos-devin-haney-agree-june-undisputed-lightweight-title-fight . live .