‘Ferocious’ Kambosos: not only does it run smoothly and rhyme, but if you have seen George fight and train, the first thing that would come to mind is “that boy is ferocious”. His fighting style is relentless, fierce and, to put it simply, ferocious. This Australian prodigy’s next big fight is booked for 3 December against the number 10 in the world.

“Taking him out will push me well into the top 10 world ratings,” Kambosos says. “I’m extremely happy and proud about my ranking to be sitting at number 12 in the world at just 23 years of age, but as a hungry fighter I want the top spot, I want to be number one.”

He has spent the last three years cruising through championships, nailing a NSW title, an Australian title and a regional WBA title, but he knows he must continue to work hard, stay dedicated and push himself to the limits to become Australia’s next world champion.

Kambosos took some time from his hectic training sessions in the US to have a bout-chat with Neos Kosmos.

When and how did you become interested in boxing?
I became interested in boxing at 11 years of age. In that period of time I was playing junior rugby league, and was very successful at the sport.

I always enjoyed playing sports, although at school, as an overweight 60kg kid, I was continuously being bullied. Therefore I decided with my father to take some self-defence and extra fitness and joined boxing at the time. I attended one of Kostya Tszyu’s boxing academy classes and I automatically fell in love with the sport due to the confidence and discipline it gave me even after the first day.

From that moment on I took a liking to boxing and continued to train three times a week. Within six months my weight decreased to 48kg and I had my first amateur fight at Golden Gloves in Queensland, where I won the Golden Gloves tournament in my division.

Any famous boxers you admire, or idols whose successful path you wish to follow?
There are many boxers that I admire which include Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Kostya Tszyu and of course, any fighter who is willing to take a risk and enter the most raw form of combat, boxing.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years time I see myself as a multiple world champion, and successful fighter still at the top of my game, and the face of boxing not only in Australia but the world, and to have young kids and fighters who will look up to me just as I looked up to my idols.

What does your training routine involve in order to make that happen?
I train immensely hard, twice to three times a day Monday to Saturday and on Sundays I do recovery sessions. My day consists of strength and conditioning, with my strength coach in the morning which includes power, explosive, resistance and cardio workouts. I then follow it up with afternoon boxing training with my boxing coach which includes sparring, pad work, shadow boxing technique and bag work, and to finish my heavy training routine I do six to 12 kilometre roadwork runs at night.

Do you ever fear you might get seriously injured?
As a fighter, injury does not exist in my vocabulary. I believe in my talent and dedication, my boxing skill and defence to be able to go through my career with very little injury. I promised myself I would finish my career as sharp in the mind as I started it.

What has been the most challenging moment in the ring so far?
As a fighter, every day is challenging because so many challenges and hurdles are faced before every preparation and fight. Boxing is a very demanding sport where you have to fully dedicate yourself and stay focused on every challenge that comes your way. There’s a huge difference between individual sports and team sports. But my most challenging moment was stepping into the ring for the first time ever in front of a vocal crowd at the age of 11, because it doesn’t matter how much you prepare outside of the ring, once you step into the ring to compete it’s a whole other level and challenge.

You are currently in the US. How is training in America compared to Australia?
America is on a whole other level when it comes to Australian boxing. There are over 3,000 registered fighters in America compared to only 400 in Australia. That alone shows the level of competition between the two. The best fighters in the world come from all over to America to become the next champion, so everyone is competing and bringing out the best in themselves to get to the top. The sparring alone compared to Australia is on world level. I have been sparring guys who have fought for world titles, guys who are on the verge of title shots and guys that are world rated just like myself, so this has brought out the best in me, and I have been exceptional in sparring, with a lot of high-level promoters starting to take interest, including Floyd Mayweather’s promoter Al Haymon.

What keeps you focused and motivated?
As a young Greek fighter I feel very connected to my Greek heritage. I’m a second generation Greek, and every time I step into the ring I know that I have the Spartan warrior instinct inside me with a vocal Greek fan base always supporting me, always behind me during my whole career to the top. I also love my tattoos and have a full back piece of Greek spartan warriors and Greek tributes commemorating my Greek heritage.

What keeps me focused and motivated is of course success itself and being the best. I have had a goal for a very long time and that is to be world champion. I fight to make my family proud, the Greek and Australian community proud, my team and finally myself.

To show support and stay up to date with George’s progress follow @georgekambososjr or like www.facebook.com/GeorgeFerociousKambosos on Facebook.