MELBOURNE, Australia — George Kambosos Jr. hopes the referee will limit the amounting of “holding” in his rematch with Devin Haney on October 16th [AEST; Oct. 15 ET on ESPN Top Rank], saying he wants to give the fans a better fight than their first meeting from earlier this year.
Kambosos surrendered his belts in their unification fight in front of more than 40,000 spectators at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in early June, with a dominant Haney declared undisputed lightweight world champion with a unanimous decision.
The Australian has enforced a rematch clause, with Haney to again travel to Melbourne for the fight at Rod Laver Arena, which has a smaller capacity of around 15,000.
Kambosos was held at bay by Haney’s jab in their first meeting, with the 23-year-old controlling the fight from the outside.
While he wouldn’t reveal what changes he had made to counter Haney’s jab, Kambosos said he hoped there would be less holding allowed.
“The changes will be made and I’m sure Haney is going to make more changes as well and I look forward to doing my talking in the ring,” Kambosos said Tuesday morning [AEST].
“I just hope, for the fans and for the love of the sport that we give a good fight.
“We give an action fight not a fight where there’s a lot of holding.
“I’m not going to take it away from Devin, a fantastic win, but hope the referee this time does justice for the fight.”
Adding an extra layer to the duel, the victor is tipped to take on either Vasiliy Lomachenko, who has relocated to the US after defending Ukraine against Russia, or former champion Jamaine Ortiz, with their fight later in October.
With talent at every turn in the 135lb division, Kambosos admitted the fight could be his last if it ended in defeat.
“It’s a great division but for me, I’m 29 so for me it’s do or die,” said.
“If I don’t overcome this fight you will not see me back in Australia fighting domestic guys; that’s not me.
“Everything I have I will be putting into that ring and me training, and god willing I will be victorious.”