George Kambosos has been declared a completely different fighter to the one who endured “trying times” in the build to his hyped Devin Haney bouts, with his team stressing this week’s bizarre fight build “doesn’t mean s…”
The warning comes as Australian UFC star Alexander Volkanovski has also backed ‘Ferocious’ to achieve the blockbuster RAC Arena upset he came so close to himself 15 months ago.
Already boasting one of the greatest boilovers in Aussie sports history, Kambosos is now readying for the double when he faces Ukranian Vasiliy Lomacheno for the IBF lightweight crown.
Apart from being as wide as $6 with some bookmakers, Kambosos has also been dismissed by most fight analysts following his three showings since unifying the division – consecutive losses to Haney and an unconvincing win over Englishman Maxi Hughes.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on fight eve however, US promoter Lou DiBella has revealed his fighter is now, mentally, in a place of “peace” and “the best he’s been in a long time”.
Boxing: Lomachenko v Kambosos IBF Lightweight World Title Fight | MON 12 MAY 12PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Volkanovski is also backing the Sydneysider’s explosiveness to earn him an upset against the future Hall of Famer.
DiBella went on to suggest the 30-year-old has been unfazed by any of Lomachenko’s fight week antics, which included running late to the Saturday weigh-ins and a pair of comically long face offs.
“But all that s…, it doesn’t matter,” the promoter said.
“Everyone is jockeying but Loma is a true professional, nothing will rattle him and George is the same.
“It’s all just chess playing.
“The only thing that matters is when they clear the ring, somebody rings that bell and there’s only two mother…ers in there with the ref.”
DiBella added that Kambosos was also in his strongest headspace since 2021, when he upset then lightweight king Teofimo Lopez.
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“After beating Lopez, there were a lot of distractions,” he said.
“George had those two big events against Haney – firstly, when he was on top of the mountain and then, second, having to adjust after such a poor performance in the first fight.
“So those were trying times
“It’s always difficult to be at the top of the mountain.
“And it’s particularly tough to then fight at home when you’re there.
“Everyone wants a piece of you.
“You’re the guy everyone wants to talk to for interviews, for tickets … it puts a lot of pressure on you.
“And then when you’re at the top of the mountain and have a really poor performance in that moment, then the pressure comes to redeem yourself, to do better.
“And George did that.
“As far as promotion goes, he went into his shell before the second fight.
“But right now he’s in a place of mental peace.
“He’s prepared himself and truly believes he is ready.
“George is visualing it, manifesting it.
“I know he’s in the best place he has been in a long time.”
Asked if he went too far into his shell for the second Haney fight, DiBella continued: “It wasn’t that he didn’t give of himself.
“He was just totally focused on having a better performance.
“He realized how spread thin he was during that first promotion.
“Realised how much he did and, maybe he allowed himself to be distracted.
“Fighting haney, he also had to confront a style that was completely alien to him.
“Now he has an opponent who he feels is well suited to him.
“He also believes he is getting Loma at the right time — late in his career and maybe a little less motivated than he once was.
“And I think George, with his new coach, with the sparring he’s done, is the best prepared he’s ever been.
“And he needs to be.
“He’s fighting a legend.”
Kambosos explains looooong staredown | 00:51
Elsewhere, Volkanovski has also backed Kambosos for the RAC Arena upset he himself was chasing at UFC 284 in February last year – when he lost via decision against lightweight king Islam Makhachev.
So close did Volk come to earning UFC ‘champ champ’ status, that even in defeat he retained his number one spot of the pound-for-pound list – and ahead of Makhachev.
“So let’s hope the roof gets blown off that joint again,” he laughed this week.
“Facing a guy like Lomachenko, it’s a tough task for George.
“But he’s so explosive.
“And speed kills.
“So I feel like even when Loma is doing all these cool movements, that explosiveness of Kambosos – the counters and combos – might really put the legend in danger.
“Obviously I have so much respect for Lomachenko.
“He’s good on the back foot, good on the front foot, good on angles … you watch tape of him and think ‘man, what can’t this guy do?’.
“But speed can definitely be a factor – I think Kambosos can catch him.
“Plus, you know the guy has that dog in him.
“So he isn’t going to be afraid to fire.
“He’ll be there for the whole fight, looking for the finish.”
Volkanovski also praised the way Aussie fighters like Kambosos and Tim Tszyu were taking on the sport’s biggest challenges, just as he has himself become famous globally among UFC fans for the same.
“What a guy Kambosos is,” said the former champ.
“Fights nobody but the best.
“He looks at things the right way, says ‘yeah, these are tough guys … but all the top guys are tough so let’s go take ‘em on’.
“George is forever challenging himself.
“And you see the rewards that come with that against Teofimo Lopez.
“Suddenly you’re the man, the one getting paid, the one calling all the shots.
“Same with Tim Tszyu taking on Vergil Ortiz Jnr for his next fight.
“Tim doesn’t want to wait around for a rematch whenever Sebastian Fundora is ready.
“He’s not only coming back quick, but against an undefeated guy, great record, because he knows what a win there does for him.
“It puts him right back (in title contention).
“He doesn’t look for the easy option.
“Doesn’t say ‘oh, maybe I wait it out and hope this option comes off’.
“He says ‘stuff that, I’m going to capitalise, fight’ and with a win he could be fighting Terence Crawford.
“And how’s that for a schedule.
“It’s why I have nothing but respect for Tim and George Kambosos.”
There are two world title fights on Sunday’s undercard.
Australia’s Andrew Moloney and Mexican Pedro Guevara will duel for the interim WBC super flyweight belt, while England’s Nina Hughes faces Australian Cherneka Johnson in the women’s WBA bantamweight battle.
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FULL FIGHT CARD (All times AEST)
Prelims from 11am, Main Card from 12pm
George Kambosos Jr (c) v Vasiliy Lomachenko – for IBO and vacant IBF lightweight world titles
Andrew Moloney v Pedro Guevara — for interim WBC super flyweight world title
Nina Hughes (c) v Cherneka Johnson — for WBA bantamweight world title
Imam Khataev v Ricards Bolotniks — light heavyweight
Joe Goodall v Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu — heavyweight
Hemi Ahio v Lucas Browne — heavyweight