Melbourne’s Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford announced the showdown today for what has been dubbed “the world’s most anticipated boxing contest”, for the lightweight unified title.
Greek Australian George Kambosos Jr, who has a 20-0 win record in the ring, will take on Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium, in what is expected to be a major event for the city.
The fight, to be held on 5 June is expected to attract more than 50,000 fans to witness Kambosos Jr defend his world titles on home soil.
“Ferocious” Jr. became the Unified Lightweight Champion of World Boxing when he beat Teófimo López at New York’s Madison Square Garden last year.
American Haney was the WBC World Champion back in 2019 defending his title four times and now wanting to reclaim it from Kambosos Jr.
The fight will be broadcast live on Foxtel in Australia and globally via free to air, satellite, pay-per-view and digital networks.
“As the undisputed events capital of Australia, Melbourne is the perfect city for George Kambosos Jr to defend his world title in a packed-out Marvel Stadium,” said Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford.
“This will be the biggest boxing contest of the year and will bring thousands of fans to Melbourne.”
The champion himself shared his excitement to be defending his title at home and chose Melbourne specifically due to it having the largest Greek population outside of Greece that will undoubtedly translate in a huge wave of support.
“After five years of chasing championship glory abroad and fighting in enemy territory, I return home to defend what I have conquered in the boxing world, my world lightweight titles,” Kambosos Jr said.
“On June 5 at the amazing Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, I get to do just that at home in Australia’s biggest boxing event ever, when I defend my IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC Franchise and Ring Magazine lightweight world titles against Devin Haney.”
WBC Lightweight World Champion Devin Haney also released a statement saying: “I’d like to give a special thanks to the Victorian Government and officials for hosting this event. I began my career fighting in small bars in Mexico. Now I’m on the cusp of greatness showcasing my skills on the world’s stage fighting for lightweight supremacy. I didn’t come this far to only come this far”.
It is worth mentioning that Kambosos Jr. was originally meant to be fight Vasiliy Lomachenko. Lomachenko’s goal for the past year was to compete against the Spartan to regain the WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring titles but the Ukrainian champion pulled out of the fight to remain in his home country following Russia’s invasion.
Even though former three-weight champion Lomachenko and Kambosos Jr. had started a rivalry on social media leading up to the super-fight, his decision to join the front line in Ukraine’s territorial army was met with respect from Kambosos Jr. who tweeted:
“I respect your decision and I totally understand and I pray for you and your country. Please stay safe and once I wipe the floor with Devin, we will make this fight between two real champions. God bless.”
