George Kambosos Jr has activated rematch clause on to fight Devin Haney again

By Boxing News - 06/17/2022 - Comments

By Sean Jones: Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. has revealed that he’s activated the rematch clause for a second fight against Devin Haney in Australia.

Kambosos Jr (20-1, 10 KOs) says the rematch with the unbeaten Haney (28-0, 15 KOs) could occur in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne.

Boxing fans don’t want to see a second fight between Haney and Kambosos, considering how one-sided their previous match-up was.

Haney beat Kambosos by a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision earlier this month on June 5th in Melbourne, Australia, to become the undisputed lightweight champion.

The judges scored it 116-112, 118-110, and 116-112. Many Boxing fans had Haney winning 11-1, as Kambosos was overmatched and looked like the mediocre fringe contender that he was thought to be when he pulled off a miracle upset against the injured former unified champion Teofimo Lopez last November.

“The rematch is happening, 100%. I’ve activated the rematch clause. The Emperor is dead, but Ferocious is still alive, and I will be back. This is my destiny to show how great I am and get those belts back. I know I can beat Haney,” said Kambosos Jr to NewsCorp.

If boxing gets its act together, rematch clauses will be done away with entirely, as it hurts the sport in many cases with needless second fights.

Automatic rematches are not harmful if the first fight is competitive or controversial. Still, in the case of Haney-Kambosos, that was a decisive win for Haney over an over-matched Kambosos, who resembled a bottom dweller fringe contender more than a unified champion.

“There are options for Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane,” Kambosos continued. “It will be in Australia, which is great. I know I can win a rematch. I will make some changes.

“My confidence hasn’t been broken. On the day, ‘Ferocious’ wasn’t at his best. I was just off a touch, but no excuses.

“I have to be smarter at my game plan next time. I am blessed to get the shot again,” said Kambosos.

The Haney vs. Kambosos Jr. rematch will be like the first fight, as George is too limited to make any adjustments in his game.

Arum floats Kambosos tune-up idea

“There’s a contract for him to fight Kambosos again in a rematch,” said Bob Arum of Top Rank to Fighthype. “Again, when sensible people have a contract, and there’s another way to go, you might be able to do that.

“In other words, nobody is talking about breaching a contract, but it may be worthwhile for Kambosos to take another fight for a tune-up fight and then fight the winner of Haney, who Haney would be fighting.

“All that is possible but is there a contract for a rematch? Absolutely, and knowing the Haneys and what honorable people they are, they’re not going to breach that contract,” said Arum.

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