Lou DiBella lists options for Kambosos next fight: Tank, Ryan Garcia, Lomachenko, Commey

By Boxing News - 12/02/2021 - Comments

By Jack Tiernan: Promoter Lou DiBella says newly crowned lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. has a TON of options available to him for his next fight in Australia, and they’re not limited to just a handful of guys at 135.

DiBella says that Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) will be fighting on pay-per-view in Australia in a stadium fight, and he’s going to make a lot of money. As far as the potential options for Kambosos, DiBella says these are a small handful of names they’re considering:

  • Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis
  • Ryan Garcia
  • Vasily Lomachenko
  • Richard Commey

Interestingly, DiBella says Ryan Garcia is a BIGGER name than WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney because many casual boxing fans will know of him.

With Ryan’s tremendous following on social media with over a million followers, that translates to many eyeballs that will be tuning in to see him fight should he challenge Kambosos for his titles.

In contrast, Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) has far viewers fans on social media, and he’s on the DAZN app, limiting how many casuals see his fights.

Other great options for Kambosos:

  • Tevin Farmer
  • Billy Dib
  • Rene Alvarado
  • Gabriel Flores Jr
  • O’Shaquie Foster

It’s about the money

“George got his by beating the guy [Teofimo] that beat the guy [Vasily Lomachenko]. Haney got his by mail order,” said promoter Lou Dibella to ThaBoxingVoice in responding to being told that Kambosos must beat WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney to become the undisputed champion.

Image: Lou DiBella lists options for Kambosos next fight: Tank, Ryan Garcia, Lomachenko, Commey

“I have respect for Haney. George wants to fight him at some point, but it’s going to be about the money and the opportunity and the biggest money and opportunity that presents itself, and there are a lot of alternatives.

“I know he [Kambosos] wants to defend his titles in Australia, so that’s also going to be in our thinking.

“A sold-out stadium is also in our interest, so we’re going to be looking at a lot of other options,” said DiBella on Kambosos’ next fight.

It sounds like Kambosos may choose to take a voluntary defense of his titles in his next bout, and that leaves out Haney and Tank Davis.

With Kambosos’ popularity, he can make a boatload of money facing a regular bottom fringe level opponent for the first defense of his four lightweight titles in Australia.

It’s in Kambosos’ best interest that DiBella picks a fighter out that the Australian boxing fans are familiar with, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a top-five guy.

Someone like Ryan Garcia will be the ideal opponent if he doesn’t pull out of the fight, as we saw recently in his battles with Javier Fortuna and Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz Jr.

DiBella lists options for Kambosos

“[Gervonta] Davis is one possibility. If you look at the big fights [for Kambosos], Davis is one. Lomachenko, if he beats Commey. The winner of that fight becomes an option. Ryan Garcia, if he gets back in the ring first. Ryan still is a BIGGER name than Devin.

“There are plenty of avenues for George to take. George is in the catbird seat right now,” said DiBella.

“Don’t presuppose that we have to fight one of those guys next. There are plenty of fighters around 130 and 135 that have name recognition and are top fighters. We’re not limited to three or four names. Why?

“Australia has their own pay-per-view. When you’re a star in Australia, you can make a s*** load of money. Maybe what we’re looking to do is getting the most exposure around the world to build up to one of those bigger fights.

We [Kambosos] have a lot of alternatives, and we’re not going to figure it out now before Christmas,” said DiBella.

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