By Huck Allen: Devin Haney says he told George Kambosos Jr. that he’s “not a true champion” after he failed to make fight on his first two tries on Friday at the weigh-in.
It took Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) multiplied tries and a 75-minute break to lose the extra .36 lbs after he weighed in at 135.36 lbs.
Although unified lightweight champion Kambosos said it was just “deception” on his part by coming in overweight, Haney believes that he got it wrong and lacked the professionalism to make sure that he would make weight.
WBC lightweight champion Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) and Kambosos headline on Saturday night at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Austraalia. The winner will be the undisputed lightweight champion.
“Honestly, I told him that he’s not a true champion because true champions make weight,” said Devin Haney to Fight Hub TV about what he said to George Kambosos Jr on Friday after he failed to make weight initially.
“It doesn’t take a bunch of times to make weight. We train for six to eight weeks to be prepared to make weight on our first go. So, I just think he’s not a true champion and he’s a b***.
“He’s mad about it. He’s upset that he didn’t make the weight or whatever the case may be. He’s trying to do anything to get out of it, but we’re going to fight tomorrow.
“The weight was way better this time. Normally, I do sauna suits. I didn’t do none of that for this camp,” said Haney when asked how it was for him to make weight.
“I hired a nutritionist, James Lockwood, and he helped with this weight cut and watched over my nutrition the whole training camp. Obviously, it’s never easy to make weight, but it’s been a lot easier and I feel the strongest that I ever felt before.
“I got to go on there and see how my body holds up on fight night, but as of right now, yeah,” said Haney about him being able to stay at 135 longer due to the help of his new nutritionist.
“I had to petition to get him to come. It was the last thing we could do. I didn’t think it would work,” said Haney about his efforts to get his dad, Bill Haney, approved by the Australian government for a visa. “I thought, ‘Let’s just try and see,’ and the s*** worked.
“I’m happy to have my dad in my corner, but nothing changes. I still follow the same blueprint, the same protocol, and we do what we got to do to get the job done.
“We’re ready to fight now. Devin Haney victorious,” said Haney when asked what happens in the fight. I intend on going in there and dominating, and doing what I got to do to make it clear to the world and to the judges and bring the victory back home,” said Haney.
