George Kambosos Jr has activated his re-match clause requesting a second fight with now unified lightweight champion Devin Haney during the World Lightweight Championship bout at the Marvel Stadium on 5 June.

For Kambosos Jt this was the first-ever defeat in his 21-fight professional career that led to the loss of the IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC Franchise belts.

As the American has made history by unifying the lightweight division many betting experts believe that there is no point in Kambosos Jr requesting a rematch due to Haney’s extreme physical and tactical superiority.

At the same time, the previously dubbed “blockbuster” fight did not gain as much traction online, delivering minimal profits to the organisers. Many viewers also dropped out of watching as early into the bout Haney established his superiority.

According to a News Corp report the Kambosos-Haney bout attracted around 50,000 PPVs on Main Event, well down on fellow Australian fighter Tim Tszyu’s peak audience of 100,000. Meanwhile, only 41,000 people actually attended the event. Based on the ratings and the prognostics, the Kambosos-Haney II will be a hard sell.

However, Kambosos Jr is pushing for the rematch to take place in Australia before Christmas this year.

“Yes, the re-match is happening, 100 per cent. I have activated the re-match clause,” Kambosos told NewsCorp. “The Emperor is dead, but Ferocious is still alive and I will be back.”

“We haven’t finalised a venue. There’s options for Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It will be in Australia which is great. I know I can win a re-match. I will make some changes and this is my destiny to show how great I am and get those belts back.

Kambosos Jr also explained that the rematch has nothing to do with money but with getting back to the level he knows he can reach.

“I know I can beat Haney. My confidence hasn’t been broken. On the day, Ferocious wasn’t at his best. I was just off a touch, but no excuses,” he said adding that Devin was the better fighter.

“He did what he had to do with his jab, he is a smart operator but I have to be smarter at my game plan next time. I am blessed to get the shot again and not many Australian boxers can say they’ve had three world title fights in a row. I shocked Lopez to win the belts, I lost them to Haney but now I will be working on a game plan to get the belts back. I have the eye of the tiger again.”

Kambosos Jr didn’t take the comparison to Tszyu’s popularity and the betting stats with a grain of salt either, arguing that “I am still the biggest name in Australian boxing”.

“Tim can barely get crowds to his fights in Australia. The last time I checked, when did Tim Tszyu fight in front of 41,000 fans in a packed stadium? He can barely get 10,000 to his fights, it’s small-time stuff.”

“I’m happy for the critics to bag me and doubt me. I am very happy with my life. No-one can take away the fact I made it to the top, I conquered the world, and I will be looking to get those belts back from Haney in our re-match.”