Unified world lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr has made weight ahead of his fight with Devin Haney, surviving his first attempt where he came in overweight.
The Spartan spoke in his familiar confident style to the media on Saturday following the incident categorically denying the near miss had any effect on him psychologically.
“It changes nothing, it changes his [Devin Haney’s] mindset now[…],” he said, implying it could be attributed to a purposeful tactic.
Standing on the scales on the Margaret Court Arena stage he dragged his thumb across his throat in a gesture like he was slitting it.
“Maybe I did it on purpose. “Art of War, baby — deception. Everything is for a cause, for a process” he exclaimed referencing the ancient Chinese military classic he carries close to him since he was 14.
And the crowd, filled with vocal Greek fans, roared in approval.
But the possibility of forfeiting his right to fight for all four belts appeared very real to observers earlier when he came in marginally over the 135-pound lightweight limit.
Stripped completely naked on stage, the 28-year-old failed to make weight on his first attempt coming in at 135.36 pounds (61.39kg)and was given an hour to make the limit.
His second attempt was successful, with the the reigning WBA, WBO and IBF champion weighing in at 134.49 pounds.
Asked how he managed to shed the extra weight, Kambosos Jr was quick to reply: “I took a piss. It was easy. I was going to have a Greek coffee. I thought, let me make the weight, then I’ll have a Greek coffee”.
Meanwhile, his opponent’s comments on the incident triggered a strong reaction by the 500-strong crowd amidst Kambosos’ supporters.
“I’m a true champion and true champions make weight. They don’t get to take multiple times to make weight,” Devin Haney said prompting the local Hellas Fan Club to shower his camp with insults.
The weigh-in drama was the latest twist to the anticipated fight. Shenanigans included a last minute green light by the Australian authorities for Haney’s father to be allowed in the country after his visa got rejected last month for having completed a jail term over drug charges.
This gave the American WBC champion a confidence boost, but probably no bigger than the one Kambosos Jr was treated to on Thursday afternoon at Federation Square when he was draped in Greek and Australian flags by his supporters.
The warm welcome to the Greek Australian champion even included a tsamiko performance honouring his Spartan heritage.
The Sunday afternoon fight will determine the first undisputed lightweight champion since the four-belt era began in 2004.
Standing on the cusp of history, George Kambosos Jr will defend his IBF, WBA and WBO belts against WBC champion Haney at Marvel Stadium in front of a home base crowd that reportedly includes four bays allocated to the vocal Hellas Fan Club.