Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr. has left his three world title belts with a unanimous defeat to American Devin Haney in his light overproduction in Melbourne.
Haney inflicted on Kambosos the first defeat of his 21-fight career at Marvel Stadium on Sunday to add the AMB, OMB and FIB titles to the CMB belt he already had.
The 23-year-old joins an exclusive club of seven wrestlers, including legends Bernard Hopkins, Terence Crawford and Tim Tszyu’s opponent Jermell Charlo, to unify a division in the 18-year-old four-belt era.
Two of the judges awarded the 116-112 bout to Haney, and the third gave 118-110 to The Dream in Las Vegas.
The new undisputed lightweight champion extended his unbeaten record to 28 wins with a pure boxing display in the biggest fight ever on the Australian coast.
“It’s amazing for the sport and the country,” Kambosos said after kindly handing over his belts to the winner. “I wanted to do the toughest test and I will give him all the respect after his victory. Let him have his time “.
While the Kambosos hit the hardest strokes throughout the 12-round contest, Haney dashed home hopes with left-handed strokes to beat the judges.
“I thought the fight was very tight,” Kambosos said. “He framed his game, he moved. He didn’t want to come and fight too much, but this is his game.
“I’ll change a few things and get him back at the end of the year. I take a risk, not many wanted to fight him, but I gave him a chance and I’m sure we’ll do it again.”
The two fighters barely punched in a careful initial round that Kambosos could have stolen with a late combination on the body of the American.
Kambosos punched the first in the fight, a strong right to Haney’s head, in the second, as the Australian had his challenger in retreat.
A more aggressive Haney grabbed the third round with a series of left-footed shots and looked like he had also shaded the fourth before Kambosos threw a big left hook late.
Kambosos landed another strong left, much needed in the sixth round, when Haney’s pepper stroke began to show on the Australian’s face.
Haney controlled rounds seven and eight, and left Cambosos to find something to influence the judges.
As he did so, the Greek-Australian Spartan warrior secured three major rights to the ninth round, as the local audience of nearly 50,000 fans wanted his local hero to deepen.
“He had a smart game plan; he took and endured a lot but he did what he had to do to win and that’s what it’s all about, “said Kambosos. “They gave him the decision today, but I’m sure that will change when we put it back on.”