KAMBOSOS VS. HANEY PRESS CONFERENCE, BETTING ODDS & WEIGH-IN VIDEO
CLICK HERE for Press Conference VIDEO (Courtesy: Top Rank)
Melbourne, Australia (June 3rd, 2022)– Unified champion Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) and WBC king Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) are set to do battle in one of the biggest boxing matches in Australian history. The Down Under showdown will be broadcast live in the United States in prime time this Saturday (Sunday local time) on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
This is some of what Kambosos and Haney had to say during a manic Monday in Melbourne.
George Kambosos Jr.
“This is amazing. This is what the sport is about, and I made this happen. I chose the biggest fights possible. I took out Teofimo Lopez. Obviously, this guy… I was prepared to fight Lomachenko. That was done. He couldn’t make it because of the {Ukraine} war. No problem, Devin, wanna step up? And he did, OK, but he was forced into this. He’s not my mandatory.”
“I could’ve fought anyone. I could’ve fought the garbageman outside if I wanted to, but I chose you. You’re not my mandatory. I picked you. You’re here, and everything is a go for Sunday.”
“I became more obsessed. I became champion and realized I loved this sport more than anything in the world. I’m very blessed to be here. I made this happen. If it wasn’t for me, this wouldn’t be happening today here, and bring it on.”
“It’s great to be back home. Five years of hard work. Everyone knows the story. I had to go through every bit of adversity. I had to earn my belts, earned them the hardest way. Not like this guy. He got given a present. I earned mine. I took the best out. It is great to be back home, great to have the support. I know that stadium will be buzzing with my support, but I just love to fight. Me and him in there, in that ring. It’s a great moment for Australian boxing, and I am very excited.”
Devin Haney
“The government would not have put up the money if it wasn’t against me. Me or Loma. And then Loma couldn’t fight, so then you had to pick me.”
“What was the point of even coming if you didn’t bring the belts? Aren’t we fighting for the belts? Didn’t the government put up the money for all the belts and didn’t the media come out because this is an undisputed fight between two champions? Why wouldn’t you bring the belts? Fu*king clown.”
“This means everything. It’s a dream come true of mine since I was a young kid. This is the biggest achievement of boxing. I can’t wait for June 5 to come.”
“There’s nothing he can do in the ring that’s better than me, and I will show it on fight night. I take nothing away from him. I think that he’s a good fighter, but I just think I’m on a whole different level.”
“This fight feels different for me. It’s something that I can really get up for. I just can’t wait.”
Most of the trash talk is over. It is nearly time. WBO/IBF/WBA lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) and WBC champion Devin Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) are two days away from their showdown for the undisputed title at Marvel Stadium. The fight, Sunday local time and airing Saturday evening in the United States, is one of the biggest bouts ever on Australian soil.
More than 40,000 fans are expected, as the 23-year-old Haney attempts to make history more than 8,000 miles from home. Kambosos, from Sydney, Australia, is back home and attempting to score his second straight upset following last November’s title-winning thriller over Teofimo Lopez.
In the 10-round co-feature, Australian two-time bantamweight title challenger Jason “Mayhem” Moloney will battle Filipino standout Aston Palicte. The ESPN-televised opener will be a 10-round battle of big men between New Zealand-born heavyweight Junior Fa and Australian Lucas Browne. Kambosos-Haney, Moloney-Palicte and Fa-Browne will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ (7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT).
At Thursday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
George Kambosos Jr.
“It has been a long, hard journey. Everyone knows that, but I’m ready for Sunday. All the tough moments have gotten me ready for Sunday, and I will shock the world again. Underdog? Beautiful. We are ready.”
“I’ve been through it all, so whatever comes to the table on Sunday, we’ll be ready. We’ll be fully prepared. We are warriors. Whatever way we have to go, we are prepared.”
On the mental warfare against Haney
“I’m just having fun. I’m enjoying the moment. I’m just talking the truth. If it has or hasn’t affected him, so be it. We’ll step in there on Sunday, and that’s where it matters.”
“I have visualized victory by any means. I have manifested everything, every part of this journey. They said that we would never be here, but only two people really believed it, me and my father. So, I manifested my victory, and I visualize victory by any means on Sunday.”
“I love the underdog status. They’ve been against me my whole career. They’ve been saying that my whole career. I’m still the top dog, and after Sunday, I’ll remain the top dog.”
Devin Haney
“This is the biggest stage, but this is something that I have dreamed of. I knew that one day I would be here, but I didn’t think that it would come this early, but I’m thankful. It’s time.”
“I knew that he would try anything that he can to try to throw me off my game or get me unfocused. But he can say what he wants to say, because regardless I’m going to do what I do when we step into the ring. I will come out victorious by any means.”
“A win would be very satisfying because that means I did it against all odds, even when things weren’t working in my favor. They were trying to do anything they can to put me at a disadvantage. But when I come out on top, it’s going to be that much sweeter. I look forward to bringing the belts back and showing my dad what we accomplished together.”
“I feel like I’m the far better fighter. I have far more skills than him. I will show him on Sunday. It’s for me to show in the ring. The betting odds really don’t matter because I will show you no matter what they say. I’m levels above him.”
Bob Arum
“This should be a terrific match. These two young men are at the top of their game. They each have a lot of pride. George Kambosos beat Teofimo Lopez, a fight he was not expected to win based on the so-called experts, but he won that fight and won all of these belts. Devin Haney is one of our bright young fighters in the United States who has attracted a lot of attention and always gives a great performance. Both guys are undefeated. This is what boxing is all about, and it should be a terrific match.”
Lou DiBella
“George Kambosos holds most of the titles. He’s earned this. He beat Teofimo Lopez. He’s taken every challenge put in front of him. At times, he’s fought in front of nobody. He’s traveled the world and has fought on other people’s territory time after time in order to get the opportunity to be the undisputed champion. And now he’ll have the opportunity to gather every belt if he can beat Devin Haney.”
“Devin Haney is a warrior and a guy who wants those belts. He is willing to take a challenge and willing to get on an airplane and go halfway around the world, even without this dad, because he understands the importance of this moment and what this opportunity means.”
Jason Moloney
“This is a massive opportunity for me. A win over him will get me another opportunity to fight for a world title. I’m just so excited, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this show. Being a part of his event has been tremendous, and it just gives me more hunger. It gives me more determination to collect those belts and to one day headline shows myself at Marvel Stadium. This is a must-win fight for me if I want to achieve my dreams and become Australia’s next world champion. I’ve worked extremely hard, and I’m ready to get the job done.”
Aston Palicte
“I’m so happy and excited to be a part of Kambosos vs. Haney. Kambosos was my running mate for Manny Pacquiao’s last fight in Las Vegas. Thank you to Team Moloney for choosing me. I’ve trained hard for this fight. Moloney is a good fighter, and I’m a good fighter, too. This is a good fight.”
Junior Fa
“Your next fight is always your biggest fight. This is basically where I’m at, and it’s such a huge stage. I’m sitting here and there are belts all over the place. And it’s all really, really cool. But I’m pretty sure that our fight is for a belt, too, and I noticed Lucas didn’t bring his belt. Hopefully, he doesn’t forget it on Sunday because I’ve made room for it in my baggage for the way back home.”
Lucas Browne
“I’m 43 years old. I’ve got three or four more fights to go. I want to solidify my career, and I want to take good fights. I don’t want to take a fight where I’m just there to roll someone over. Junior Fa and Joseph Parker have been on the radar for many years. Obviously, it’s a good little rivalry between Australia and New Zealand. So, for me, it makes sense that I fight Junior now.”
George Kambosos Jr. (WBO/WBA/IBF Champion) vs. Devin Haney (WBC Champion), 12 rounds, Undisputed Lightweight World TitleJason Moloney vs. Aston Palicte, 10 rounds, Moloney’s WBC Silver and Vacant WBO International Bantamweight Titles
Junior Fa vs. Lucas Browne, 10 rounds, Browne’s WBA Oceania Heavyweight Title
SWING BOUT: Hemi Ahio vs. Christian Ndzie Tsoye, 8/6 rounds, heavyweight
SWING BOUT: David Nyika vs. Karim Maatalla, 6/4 rounds, cruiserweight
Amari Jones vs. Ankush Hooda, 6 rounds, middleweight
Andrew Moloney vs. Alexander Espinoza, 8 rounds, bantamweight
Terry Nickolas vs. Lachlan Higgins, 6 rounds, middleweightTaylah Robertson vs. Sarah Higginson, 5 rounds, flyweight
Yoel Angeloni vs. Ken Aitken, 4 rounds, welterweight
SWING BOUT: Luke Gersbeck vs. Isaias Sette, 4 rounds, junior middleweight
Event Name: George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney — Press Conference
Date: Friday, June 3, 2022
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HERE
Betting Odds
Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images
• CLICK HERE for Weigh-in VIDEO
Credit: Top Rank
(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
• George Kambosos Jr. 134.49 vs. Devin Haney 134.92
(Undisputed Lightweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
• Jason Moloney 117.6 lbs vs. Aston Palicte 117 lbs
(Moloney’s WBC Silver and Vacant WBO International Bantamweight Titles — 10 Rounds)
• Lucas Browne 261.02 lbs vs. Junior Fa 268.3 lbs
(Browne’s WBA Oceania and Vacant IBF International Heavyweight Titles — 10 Rounds)
(ESPN+, Following Main Event)
• Andrew Moloney 116.9 lbs vs. Alexander Espinoza 115.1 lbs
(Bantamweight— 8 Rounds)
• Amari Jones 159.2 lbs vs. Ankush Hooda 159.1 lbs
(Middleweight — 6 Rounds)
(ESPN+, 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT)
• Terry Nickolas 155.9 lbs vs. Lachlan Higgins 154.7 lbs
(Junior Middleweight — 6 Rounds)
• Taylah Robertson 111.6 lbs vs. Sarah Higginson 110.8 lbs
(Flyweight — 5 Rounds)
• Yoel Angeloni 146.9 lbs vs. Ken Aitken 146.3 lbs
(Welterweight — 4 Rounds)
SWING BOUTS
• Hemi Ahio 255.5 lbs vs.Christian Ndzie Tsoye 256.1 lbs
(Heavyweight — 8/6 Rounds)
• David Nyika 199.2 lbs vs. Karim Maatalla 199.8 lbs
(Cruiserweight — 6/4 Rounds)
• Isaias Sette 153 lbs vs. Luke Gersbeck 153.4 lbs
(Junior Middleweight — 4 Rounds)
Link to Images on Getty: CLICK HERE
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