By Jim Calfa: Tim Bradley predicts an easy win for WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney over unified champion George Kambosos Jr. on Sunday night on ESPN+.
Bradley thinks Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) will “whitewash” the home fighter Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) to become the undisputed 135-lb champion at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
The only thing that concerns Bradley is the 23-year-old Haney’s tendency to stand still, and shell up in his fights, which makes him an easy target for right hands.
If Haney makes that mistake against Kambosos, he could be inviting trouble on Saturday night.
Up until recently, Kambosos wasn’t much of a puncher, but he’s made significant inroads in that area and is now punching with more explosive power than ever before at 28.
“I believe Haney has got enough skills to beat a fighter like Kambosos, but I think it’s going to be tough,” said Tim Bradley to Fight Hub TV. “I know it’s going to be tough with the judges a little bit, but we as fighters, we can’t be thinking about that.”
Haney has pretty good wheels and is capable of moving well when he’s interested in doing so. If Haney is disciplined in this fight, and committed to playing the hit & move style, he can give Kambosos fits.
Haney might have too much pride going for him, which causes him to slug with his opponents. If he does that against Kambosos, he’ll lose rounds and he could wind up in the same position as Teofimo Lopez in losing to an underdog.
“He signed the contract and is willing to go and do it there, and he’s got to deal with it,” Bradley continued about Haney having to deal with being the visiting fighter in Kambosos’ backyard in Australia. “I think that Haney has just got to box, and not stand there for 12 rounds.”
It’s obvious to everybody that Haney must stick & move, but he’s not as disciplined as Kambosos. Some fighters, you can give them a game plan and they’ll stick with it until the end, but not Haney.
“He should be able to whitewash him, seriously. Haney has got better feet, he’s longer, got a longer jab. It’s when he sits still, that’s the problem that I have,” said Bradley.
“When he sits still, and goes into that Philly shell and gets hit with right hands, I worry about that, especially against Kambosos.
“That too,” said Bradley when Haney’s weak chin was brought up. “Kambosos isn’t the biggest puncher. He was able to put down Lopez, Teo, but Kambosos is different now.
“He’s explosive. I did study him. I can tell you right now. His timing and his footwork. He moves well backward and then he explodes,” said Bradley about Kambosos.
