George Kambosos Jr

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George Kambosos Jr
Born (1993-06-14) 14 June 1993 (age 30)
Sydney, Australia
Other names
  • Ferocious
  • The Emperor
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height174 cm (5 ft 8.5 in)[1]
Reach173 cm (68 in)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights23
Wins21
Wins by KO10
Losses2
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Arafura Games
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Darwin Lightweight
Australian National Championships
Silver medal – second place 2009 Canberra Featherweight
Silver medal – second place 2011 Melbourne Lightweight
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Hobart Lightweight

George Kambosos Jr (born 14 June 1993) is an Australian professional boxer who held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight titles from 2021 to 2022. He is the current IBO lightweight world champion. As of July 2023, he's ranked as the world's number seven lightweight by The Ring[2] and TBRB,[3] and the world's number five lightweight by BoxRec.[4]

Early life[edit]

Kambosos was born in Sydney to parents of Greek descent.[5] His paternal grandparents moved from Sparta, Laconia, to Australia and Kambosos has the famous Spartan war cry "Never retreat, never surrender" tattooed on his body in homage to his heritage.[6] He began playing junior rugby league for the Gymea Gorillas at a young age,[7] and was often bullied as a child for being overweight, so his father enrolled him in boxing classes at 11 years of age to improve his fitness.[8] Kambosos quickly dropped the excess weight and was placed in the Cronulla Sharks development squad where he was coached by Ricky Stuart but found himself at a crossroad as a teenager when he was forced to choose between boxing and rugby league.[7] He elected to pursue the boxing pathway and began his fighting career by amassing 85 wins in 100 amateur fights before turning professional.[9] Kambosos attended Bexley Public School in the southern suburbs of Sydney throughout his upbringing.[10]

Professional career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Kambosos made his professional boxing debut in May 2013, aged 19, when he faced Filipino fighter Jayson Mac Gura and was victorious via a second round technical knockout. In December 2016, he captured the WBA Oceania title by beating world number nine Brandon Ogilvie.[11][12] He then went on to face Qamil Balla in May 2017,[13] whom he defeated by unanimous decision in a ten-round fight.[14] Five months later, he knocked out Krai Setthaphon in the ninth round and won the WBA Oceania and IBF Pan Pacific titles in the lightweight division.[15]

Pacquiao's sparring partner[edit]

In June 2017, Kambosos was tabbed by Manny Pacquiao as his main sparring partner in preparation for the fight with Jeff Horn[16] and has remained Pacquiao's main sparring partner for his fights after Horn as well.[17] In April 2018, Kambosos signed a promotional contract with DiBella Entertainment.[18]

In May 2018, he made his debut in the US[19] and knocked out Jose Forero in just 1 minute and 48 seconds.[20] On 19 January 2019, Kambosos defeated Rey Perez at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner via unanimous decision in his second fight on US soil.[21] On 7 June in Athens, Kambosos returned to his native land of Greece and knocked out Venezuelan 11–2 (9 KOs) Richard Pena in round six in front of the packed out Galatsi Olympic Hall. He called out former two division world champion José Pedraza after his victory.

Rise up the ranks[edit]

Kambosos vs Bey[edit]

On 14 December 2019, Kambosos faced his toughest opponent yet, former IBF lightweight champion Mickey Bey. He won the bout by split decision on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs Egidijus Kavaliauskas. Scorecards read 97–92, 96–93 and 94–95 in favour of Kambosos.[22][23]

Kambosos vs Selby[edit]

On 31 October 2020, Kambosos defeated former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby by split decision at The SSE Arena in London.[24] Selby was ranked #1 by the WBO, #4 by the IBF and #12 by the WBC at the time.[25] The win over Selby made Kambosos the mandatory challenger for the IBF lightweight title.[26]

Unified lightweight champion[edit]

Kambosos vs López[edit]

Main article: Teófimo López vs. George Kambosos Jr.

On 9 January 2021, the IBF ordered undefeated unified lightweight champion Teófimo López to defend his titles against Kambosos, their number one contender and mandatory challenger.[27] The fight was initially set for 5 June 2021 at the LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, before being postponed multiple times, due to complications involving López contracting COVID-19,[28] and disputes over the venue of the fight.[29][30] The fight had gone to purse bids which was won by Triller with a winning bid of over US$6 million. However, on 6 October, it transpired that the IBF had found Triller in default of its contract obligation to stage the fight, and that its rights would be awarded to the second highest bidder, Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, and the fight was shown live exclusively on the streaming service DAZN.[31][32] Kambosos won the bout via split decision to become the new unified lightweight world champion. One judge had it 114–113 for López, while the other two judges scored the bout 115–112 and 115–111 in favour of Kambosos.[33]

Kambosos vs Haney[edit]

Main article: George Kambosos Jr vs Devin Haney

On 5 June 2022, Kambosos Jr. and Devin Haney clashed at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia to determine the 1st undisputed lightweight champion of the four-belt era.[34] The fight did not proceed without controversy, as Kambosos was unable to make weight on his first attempt. He initially weighed in at 135.36 lbs, 0.36 lbs over the 135 lb limit for the lightweight division. On his second attempt an hour later, within the two-hour limit, Kambosos weighed in at 134.49 lbs.[35][36] The fight then proceeded as planned and Kambosos was defeated by Haney after a unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 116–112 and one judge scoring it 118–110, all in favor of Haney. The deal for the fight included an automatic rematch clause which Kambosos exercised. The rematch occurred on October 16, 2022 in Australia.[34][37]

Kambosos vs Haney II[edit]

Main article: Devin Haney vs George Kambosos Jr II

George Kambosos and Devin Haney met in their rematch at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on October 16, 2022.[38] Kambosos lost the fight via unanimous decision with the scores of 118–110 (twice) and 119–109, in favor of Haney.[39]

Professional boxing record[edit]

23 fights 21 wins 2 losses
By knockout 10 0
By decision 11 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
23 Win 21–2 Maxi Hughes MD 12 22 Jul 2023 Firelake Arena, Shawnee, Oklahoma, US Won IBO lightweight title
22 Loss 20–2 Devin Haney UD 12 16 Oct 2022 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia For WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles
21 Loss 20–1 Devin Haney UD 12 5 Jun 2022 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Lost WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles;
For WBC lightweight title
20 Win 20–0 Teófimo López SD 12 27 Nov 2021 Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US Won WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles
19 Win 19–0 Lee Selby SD 12 31 Oct 2020 The SSE Arena, London, England
18 Win 18–0 Mickey Bey SD 10 14 Dec 2019 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
17 Win 17–0 Richard Pena TKO 6 (10), 1:36 7 Jun 2019 Galatsi Olympic Hall, Athens, Greece
16 Win 16–0 Rey Perez UD 8 19 Jan 2019 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US
15 Win 15–0 JR Magboo TKO 2 (8), 2:02 15 Jul 2018 Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
14 Win 14–0 Jose Forero KO 1 (10), 1:48 5 May 2018 Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US
13 Win 13–0 Kaewfah Tor Buamas TKO 9 (10), 1:59 13 Oct 2017 Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia Retained WBA Oceania lightweight title;
Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title
12 Win 12–0 Qamil Balla UD 10 6 May 2017 Vodafone Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
11 Win 11–0 Brandon Ogilvie UD 12 2 Dec 2016 Luna Park, Sydney, Australia Won WBA Oceania lightweight title
10 Win 10–0 Issa Nampepeche RTD 4 (12), 3:00 8 Jun 2016 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia Retained WBA-PABA lightweight title
9 Win 9–0 Joebert Delos Reyes KO 4 (12), 2:34 12 Dec 2015 Alexandria Basketball Stadium, Sydney, Australia Retained WBA-PABA lightweight title
8 Win 8–0 Leonardo Esteban Gonzalez TKO 3 (12), 2:59 4 Jul 2015 Club Punchbowl, Sydney, Australia Won WBA-PABA interim lightweight title
7 Win 7–0 Rodynie Rafol UD 6 31 Jan 2015 Allphones Arena, Sydney, Australia
6 Win 6–0 Robert Toomey UD 10 29 Aug 2014 Club Punchbowl, Sydney, Australia Won Australian lightweight title
5 Win 5–0 Akrapong Nakthaem TKO 1 (6), 2:30 9 Apr 2014 Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia
4 Win 4–0 Paitoon Jaikom UD 6 29 Jan 2014 Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, Australia
3 Win 3–0 Michael Correa TKO 6 (8), 2:59 22 Nov 2013 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia Won vacant NSW state lightweight title
2 Win 2–0 Roberto Oyan UD 6 17 Aug 2013 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia
1 Win 1–0 Jayson Mac Gura TKO 2 (6), 2:06 18 May 2013 Croatian Club, Sydney, Australia

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Top Rank tale of the tape prior to the Devin Haney fight.
  2. ^ "Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Rankings – Transnational Boxing Rankings Board". Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  4. ^ "BoxRec: Login". boxrec.com. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  5. ^ Dalatariof, Panagiotis (2 March 2020). "George "Ferocious" Kambosos Jr – The unbeaten Greek Australian fighter who dreams of being world champion!". greekherald.com.au.
  6. ^ Kambosos Jr, George (12 September 2018). "I'm Australia's best athlete – George Kambosos Jr". greekherald.com.au.
  7. ^ a b Dalatariof, Panagiotis (5 June 2020). "George "Ferocious" Kambosos Jr – The unbeaten Greek Australian fighter who dreams of being world champion!". theaustralian.com.au.
  8. ^ Santoliquito, Joseph (27 October 2020). "George Kambosos Jr. overcame bullying and scorn to reach prime time against Lee Selby". ringtv.com.
  9. ^ "Kambosos Jr. targets world top five - Boxing Monthly". 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  10. ^ Webster, Andrew (28 May 2022). "'Ferocious' Kambosos: the Australian sporting hero you've never heard of". smh.com.au.
  11. ^ Parkinson, Andrew (29 November 2016). "George Kambosos Jnr ready for Luna Park rumble". theleader.com.au.
  12. ^ Hamilton-Irvine, Gary (5 December 2016). "Boxing: Kambosos Jnr beats Ogilvie, remains undefeated". theleader.com.au.
  13. ^ Schelle, Caroline (1 May 2017). "Qamil Balla targets lightweight champ George Kambosos Jr". Herald Sun.
  14. ^ Parkinson, Andrew (8 May 2017). "George 12-0 after big victory". theleader.com.au.
  15. ^ "George "Ferocious" Kambosos 9th round TKO of Krai Setthaphon in Melbourne Highlights | SuperNewsWorld.com". 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Pacquiao spars with Aussie who fights like Horn". news.abs-cbn.com. 4 June 2017.
  17. ^ "LOOK: Pacquiao begins hard sparring for Adrien Broner fight". news.abs-cbn.com. 4 December 2018.
  18. ^ "George Kambosos Jr. signs with Dibella". 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  19. ^ "George Kambosos Ready To Make a Big Splash in United States". BoxingScene.com. 5 May 2018.
  20. ^ "George Kambosos Jr Picks Up Win by KO over Jose Forero – BoxingSocialist". boxingsocialist.com. 7 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Kambosos, Pacquiao Sparring Partner, Easily Out-Boxes Perez". BoxingScene.com. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Kambosos Jnr vs Bey - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  23. ^ "George Kambosos Jr. Defeats Mickey Bey in biggest test of his career". 15 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Kambosos' big win snares world title shot".
  25. ^ "Selby vs Kambosos Jnr - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  26. ^ "George Kambosos Gets Split Nod over Lee Selby in IBF Eliminator". 31 October 2020.
  27. ^ "IBF orders lightweight world title fight between Aussie George Kambosos Jnr and Teofimo Lopez Jnr". Fox Sports Australia. 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Lopez tests positive for Covid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  29. ^ "IBF ends Triller's Aussie plan for Lopez-Kambosos". ESPN.com. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Lopez-Kambosos now targeted for Middle East". ESPN.com. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  31. ^ "IBF awards Lopez-Kambosos bout to Matchroom". ESPN.com. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  32. ^ "Eddie Hearn confirms Teofimo Lopez vs. George Kambosos will now be promoted by Matchroom Boxing, broadcast by DAZN | DAZN News US". DAZN. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  33. ^ "George Kambosos Jr. shocks Teofimo Lopez in split decision to become new unified world lightweight champion | DAZN News US". DAZN. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  34. ^ a b "George Kambosos vs. Devin Haney results: Haney outclasses Kambosos to unanimous decision victory". www.sportingnews.com. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  35. ^ "Kambosos able to make weight after initial miss". ESPN.com. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  36. ^ "Inside wild weigh-in talks — and the scale move that left Kambosos camp fuming". Fox Sports. 4 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  37. ^ "Haney-Kambosos produced domination ... and an unnecessary rematch". ESPN.com. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  38. ^ "Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Rematch Official: October 15 in Melbourne". BoxingScene.com.
  39. ^ "Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos 2 results: Haney dominant again, remains undisputed lightweight champ". 12 October 2022.

External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Valentine Borg 		New South Wales lightweight champion
22 November 2013 – 2014 		Vacant
Title next held by
Nathan Wright
Preceded by
Robert Toomey
 Australian lightweight champion
29 August 2014 – 2015 		Vacant
Title next held by
Miles Zalewski
Vacant
Title last held by
Azad Azizov 		WBA-PABA lightweight champion
Interim title
4 July 2015 – August 2015
promoted to full champion 		Vacant
Title next held by
Will Tomlinson
Vacant
Title last held by
Roman Andreev 		WBA-PABA lightweight champion
August 2015 – March 2016 		Vacant
Title next held by
Liquan Lin
Preceded by
Brandon Ogilivie
 WBA Oceania lightweight champion
March 2016 – November 2017 		Vacant
Title next held by
Kye MacKenzie
Vacant
Title last held by
Tosho Makoto Aoki 		IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion
13 October 2017 – 2018 		Vacant
Title next held by
Phumiritdet Chonlathondamrongkun
Minor world boxing titles
Preceded by IBO lightweight champion
22 July 2023 – present 		Incumbent
Major world boxing titles
Preceded by WBA lightweight champion
Super title
27 November 2021 – 5 June 2022 		Succeeded by
IBF lightweight champion
27 November 2021 – 5 June 2022
WBO lightweight champion
27 November 2021 – 5 June 2022
The Ring lightweight champion
27 November 2021 – 5 June 2022
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