By Dan Ambrose: George Kambosos Jr will try to rejuvenate his career this Saturday night against IBO 135-lb champ Maxi Hughes in the headliner spot, while the ultra-talented lightweight contender Keyshawn Davies battles Francesco Patera in the chief support bout in a Top Rank promoted show at the Firelake Arena, Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The former unified lightweight champion Kambosos Jr (20-2, 10 KOs) made it a point today to let the media and fans know that he’s only lost to one guy, Devin Haney, in his career, and he’s coming back with a ruthless attitude after his consecutive defeats from a year ago.
Kambosos Jr’s career is hanging by a thread
A loss to Hughes could be the end of the line for Kambosos because if he can’t beat this guy, it would be futile to hang around and wind up as a punching back for the young killers in the 135-lb division.
It would be a good idea for Kambosos Jr to use his new Lomachenko-esque technical skills the best that he can for this fight because he cannot afford another loss on his record.
Kambosos-Hughes is an IBF lightweight title eliminator, and the winner will be in line to fight for the title against champion Devin Haney or for the vacant belt if he chooses to move up to 140.
Saturday night’s card will be shown live on ESPN, ESPN Deportee, and ESPN+, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
Some boxing fans feel that #8 WBO, #10 WBA, #12 IBF & #15 WBO lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KOs) should be the main event for his 10 round fight against Francesco Patera (28-3, 10 KOs) instead of the recently twice beaten Kambosos Jr, because he’s younger and has a great future ahead of him.
Kambosos ready for another title shot
George Kambosos Jr: “I’m very excited and refreshed. The meaning behind that is that if you look at the last year. Three meaningful fights in the last year. Big fights take their toll, but I was able to step back and continue my training, refresh the body, and I’m here now.
“I’m very excited, feel fantastic, and I can’t wait to handle business.”
Maxi Hughes: “It’s one of my dreams when I turned professional. You watch all the big fights in America. I’ve had my tough times in boxing, but I’ve shown my mental strength. I’ve come through that and gotten to this point.
“I’ve earned my right to be on this stage in the main event. Yeah, Oklahoma wasn’t on my list of places to visit, but I’m enjoying it. Everybody is friendly. We’ve been traveling around and training in Oklahoma City. I’m getting to know the locals, and I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying the journey. I’m happy and proud to be up here in the main event.”
Kambosos Jr: “We all know that Devin is a class act. Styles make fights. You learn from these kinds of fights. I’ve seen it all, championship after championship after championship. We can go from stadium fights to here in Oklahoma to Madison Square Garden, taking all the belts [from sick Teofimo Lopez]. We’ve been there and done it.
“You learn a lot about yourself and about the kind of guys you’re against, and you build from that. I’ve never been the kind of guy that would sit there, ‘Oh, I had a loss. It’s taken my confidence away.’
“I came up against Devin Haney. I lost to one guy, and I think the boxing world is forgetting that. That’s the only guy I lost to. So, I got to remind them again. We have learned and worked on a lot of things, but the biggest thing is, I’ve become a greedy mother f***ker now. So every hole there is, I’m going to take it.”
Keyshawn Davis: “Something new. I’m a fighter that you can watch me and study me, but you got to know boxing to know what kind of fighter I am when you get in with me,” said Keyshawn during today’s final press conference.
“I’m 8-0. Y’all ain’t even seen the best of me yet. Expect something new this Saturday, for sure.”
Francesco Patera: “I’m happy to be fighting in the U.S. and happy for this opportunity. I’m ready. This means a lot, and this can change my life. I’m going to give it my all on Saturday.”
Keyshawn: “Everybody that fights me, it could be a life-changing moment, but when they get in the ring, it’s a different story. So just expect the same thing you’ve been seeing out of me,” said Keyshawn.
“To be in that circle, period. I’ve been in that circle for years. I always take away things from them, and that’s the reason I perform so great when I perform. I just keep learning from the people I am around, and most of the people I’m around are on a high level, particularly in this camp.”