By Chris Williams: Lightweight champions George Kambosos Jr. and Devin Haney had an intense staredown during their face-off at the final press conference on Thursday ahead of their undisputed fight this Sunday night at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
Some boxing fans on social media saw fear in the eyes of the 23-year-old Haney during the staredown and with his decision to turn away from Kambosos. Chris Williams doesn’t see it that way.
Haney has the look of quiet confidence, appearing determined and ready for victory on Sunday night.
The betting favorite, WBC 135-lb champion Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) broke off the stare down first, turning away to the audience, seemingly tiring of the pointless ritual. Kambosos then continued to stare at Haney, smiling as if he’d just won a small victory.
When Kambosos finally turned around to look at the media, he was beaming, looking like the Cheshire cat.
Unfortunately, Kambosos still have the hard part ahead of him in needing to win the athletic portion of the competition against the highly technical Haney, and it doesn’t seem like he’s the man for the job.
Unified lightweight champion Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) may regret that he chose Haney as his opponent rather than taking on one of the bottom dwellers in the division for the first defense of his four newly won belts.
“I don’t see the conviction. I think he just wants to get this fight done, praying that he can get it done, and then go home,” said George Kambosos Jr. to Fight Hub TV about Devin Haney.
Kambosos will have to adapt if he doesn’t want to get run out of the stadium on Sunday by Haney because his typical wild-man approach to fighting is too crude & primitive to work against a technician like Devin.
“He’s not ready to go into the deep waters. He’s not ready to go that extra bit,” said Kambosos. “Everybody always knows that I’m always am. I’m ready to die on my shield.
“When the going gets tough, let’s see how willing and how far he wants to go. I’ve already seen the eyes. I’ve seen the chinks in the armor, and I’m just ready to expose them on Sunday.
“I believe with what I bring to the table, that can be a high possibility,” Kambosos said when asked if Haney could wind up quitting when the going gets tough.
“I hope his corner, being a new corner, just really love him and make sure he’s safe. I’m just ready for a great fight. I believe I’m ruffled a few feathers, and I’m in his head.
“I just love it. I believe I’m a big student of the art of war, and I haven’t even brought out the big guns if I want to,” said Kambosos.
