By Craig Daly: Former IBF, WBA, WBO & Ring Magazine lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr and Maxi Hughes have signed a contract to meet in the summer in Australia.
Mike Coppinger reports the news of the 29-year-old Kambosos Jr (20-2, 10 KOs) battling the #12 WBC lightweight contender (26-5-2, 5 KOs) next. For the 29-year-old Kambosos Jr, this will be his first fight since losing to Devin Haney for the second time last October.
Kambosos badly needs a victory to keep his career afloat, as he hasn’t won a fight in two years since his victory over Teofimo Lopez in November 2021.
Hughes, 33, has looked impressive recently, winning his last seven fights since losing to Liam Walsh in 2019. In the last three years, Hughes has beaten Jono Carroll, Patrick Hyland Jr, Jovanni Straffon, Ryan Walsh, and Kid Galahad.
Hughes is looking hard to beat right now, and he might be too much for Kambosos Jr. If Kambosos loses this fight, he’s going to need to decide whether it’s worth it to continue his career because that would be his third consecutive loss.
“I feel really refreshed. I’ve been really active, especially in that one year where I had three fights against some good guys,” said George Kambosos Jr to Fighthype.
Former lightweight champion George Kambosos and Maxi Hughes have signed contracts for a fight this summer in Australia, sources tell ESPN.
The bout is likely to take place in June but no date or site finalized yet. Kambosos’ first bout since back-to-back defeats to Devin Haney.
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 13, 2023
“I’m hungry for more. What I’ve achieved, it’s not enough for me. Someone looking at it from the outside, they say he’s achieved a lot. For me, the hungry warrior that I am, I wanted more.
“I’ve got a point to prove, so whoever I’m matched up against next is in trouble. I’ve got some bad intentions. ‘Ferocious’ is coming back. I’ll fight tomorrow. You saw the way I sparred yesterday. I’m so sharp and better over time.
“At 29 years of age, I just feel really good. Whoever I come up against next, they’re in trouble. You never want to lose. I was undefeated and had claimed all the belts, but it’s part of the game. When you fight the best, it’s part of the game.
“It stinks, but I’ve only lost to one guy, and that guy isn’t just a Joe Blow, an ordinary fighter, a cherry pick. He’s a superior boxer. I’m motivated from that, from my experiences and the lessons that I’ve taken, and I’m just a better fighter all around.
“It stinks to a point, but I’m hungry and motivated to make a statement in my next fight to show that I’m still here. I’ll be better. I already feel better. You’ve seen a lot of my training prior to the Haney fight, prior to the [Teofimo] Lopez fight. I’m better, much more calculated, and sharper, much more stronger, explosive, and you learn more.
“What you fight the best guys, you learn from it, sharpen your blades. My blades are sharp. Like I said, whoever I fight next, not only are they in trouble but I’ve seen everything and anything. I’ve seen it all,” said Kambosos Jr.
