George Kambosos tested his heart, but Devin Haney was just too good to be the undisputed world champion.
Devin Haney is the undisputed champion of the light division after a 12-round war against George Kambosos.
The 23-year-old nicknamed “The Dream” entered the history books with a unanimous victory of 116-112 x 2, 118-110, devastating a packed Marvel Stadium.
Watch the Justis Huni heavyweight battle against Joseph Goodall for the WBO Eastern and Pan-Pacific regional titles of the IBF. Wednesday, June 15 at 7pm AEST LIVE with Main Event at Kayo Sports and Foxtel. ORDER NOW>
This is the first time the lightweight division has joined the four-belt era and Haney is the youngest of eight champions in any division.
Kambosos broke his bowels, but was simply overtaken by a better fighter. The city hero was magnanimous in defeat and congratulated the new champion, wearing his belts in the ring to deliver to Haney.
From the first moment, it was as if the couple knew this was going away and they took their time to get into the first round.
Haney landed the best of the first shots when Kambosos’ face reddened almost immediately. But the Australian found his rank and some success on the counterattack.
Haney’s famous defensive skill came to the fore as the pair exchanged strong blows, but the young gun’s quick feet made sure he could stay out of trouble as he danced around the ring.
Haney wanted to fight at a distance, catching Cambosos every time he approached. The visitor hit the canvas in the ninth round, but it was considered a push, as Kambosos sought to get fit to try to maintain his status as a light king.
As the fight progressed, it became apparent that Haney was accumulating rounds, using his jab expertly.
Kambosos despaired, knowing that he needed to put an end to death, but his extravagant swings did not find the desired goal, and the judges agreed that Haney was the deserved winner.
“Let him have his time, I will have my time. I will change some things,” Kambosos said, while paying tribute to his rival during the ring interview.
“It’s about boxing. That’s what it’s about. It’s not about protecting records.”
Kambosos already said he was expecting a resumption, which was written into the contract in case the Australian fell to Melbourne.
Australian fans at Marvel Stadium chanted the American national anthem, which was played before the fighters marched in the middle, and this theme continued when Haney came out to the sound of more mockery from the people in the parish house.
On the other hand, Kambosos’s play was disheartening.
But Haney kept his promise to ruin the Down Under party, refusing to let any outside noise distract him from his work while he went to a clinic.
“It simply came to our notice then. I knew this was going to be a great time, “Haney said after the win.
“It would have hurt to win this without my dad, so I’m glad he was here in my corner.
“I was comfortable. I was sticking to the game plan to hit and not receive it.
“I fought in a smart fight.
“I hurt him at his best. He wanted to land on the right and he couldn’t hit me with his left hook either.
“If the next fight is over, I’ll be back.”
Collect the round
Round 1
It was a conservative start by the two men, who began to size each other up. Haney punched first, but Kambosos bounced back with a burst at the end of the round.
Round 2
Kambosos landed a huge right hand at the start of the second. “That was a bomb,” commentator Barry Michael told Main Event. Haney didn’t move too badly and recovered to stay up to the doorbell.
Round 3
Kambosos brought a strong shot to the body and Haney was working on his jab very well, following with a combination of punches and leading Kambosos to the ropes. The Australian banged his nose again as Haney’s blows left their mark.
Round 4
Haney placed himself under Kamboso’s right hand, showing a sudden movement to limit the damage. But with 30 seconds left in the round, Kambosos punched his best until his right hand helped him.
Round 5
Haney put one on Kambosos’ chin and then re-tagged it as the Australian tried to move forward. The American fighter was finding his reach and controlling the fight as he dug under a couple more rights. Haney looked elegant while Kambosos got too lost.
Round 6
Haney’s defense was top notch and the Kambosos struggled to penetrate. The fighters have been tied up a couple of times, needing to be dragged by the referee before a left hook from Kambosos lands with a blow to the body of his opponent.
Round 7
Kambosos kept trying to land his right hand and, in a strange moment, hit the middle of Haney with his head. Haney was having a great game – if anything the pouring rain seemed to be spurring him on!
Round 8
Haney kept the lead, making the Cambodians work for everything without much reward. The American was clinical, proving hard to hit clean, but Kambosos made solid contact with a burst of punches as we entered the final minute of the round. The intensity of the audience increased as the fans went crazy.
Round 9
Kambosos came into action with a clean left-right, knowing that time was running out to change the momentum of the fight. Haney hit the canvas, but it was decided that it was a push and did not count as a knockdown, as Kambosos continued to advance, getting quick blows to the body in succession.
Round 10
Kambosos continued his counterattack with a few shots to the body before a large bomb over the top cut Haney in the shoulder, the audience thinking at first that he had shaken Haney in the chin. There was a disastrous moment when Kambosos received a ping to grab Haney’s arm and punch him at the same time, causing the referee to intervene and issue a severe reprimand.
Round 11
Kambosos kept trying to force the problem but Haney’s defense remained standing. The Australian ate a couple of hard blows as he advanced before Haney found Kambosos’ chin again, and then tweeted the 28-year-old after the bell signaled the end of the round.
Round 12
The crowd rose for one last increase, knowing that Kambosos had to unload and seek to end the fight. He threw himself out of balance with a wild left hook that missed the target while Haney held the last shot.
“Absolute Garbage”: America explodes with a farce
The fight between Kambosos and Haney was the biggest in the world today, but American fans erupted when the US station showed pre-recorded pieces while the ring fights were taking place.
U.S. boxing experts attacked ESPN for not showing all the action live, as fans were filled with other fights at Marvel Stadium before the main event.
Moloney leaves his mark
Jason Moloney, a two-time world champion candidate, did a small job of Philippine star Aston Palicte with a KO in the third round before the Kambosos-Haney resentment match.
After fighting at close range during the first rounds, Moloney struck the killer.
Moloney dropped Palicte in the third round before going to kill with a brutal right hand.
The referee had no choice but to let the Australian down his Filipino rival.
Palicte was inconsolable after the fight and sat on his corner after losing his chance of a quick promotion against the highly respected Australian.
Moloney said it was “one of the best moments of my life.”
After falling to the last hurdle twice in his world title dreams, Moloney said: “I’m ready to be the next world champion in Australia.”
Nobody likes a raffle
Terry Nickolas and Lachlan Higgins lit up the Kambosos-Haney fight card with an impressive six rounds, but fans were infuriated by the tie.
The crowd booed after reading the result: a 58-56 to Higgins and two 57-57 cards meant it was a majority draw after an impressive fight.
The pair got into it, and it looked like Higgins might have gotten the win in the final round when a straight right nearly knocked Nickolas to his knee.
Hopefully the boys can do it again.
Complete results of the fight card
Fighting after the main event
Andrew Moloney Vs. Alexander Espinoza: eight rounds in super flyweight
Amari Jones vs. Ankush Hooda: Six rounds in super welterweight
Main card
Devin Haney defeated George Kambosos Jr. by unanimous decision (116-112 x 2, 118-110) for the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring lightweight world titles.
Rooster weight: Jason Moloney defeated by KO (round 3)
Cruiserweight: David Nyika defeated Karim Maatalla by unanimous decision (49-46×2, 48-47)
Heavyweight: Hemi Ahio defeated Christian Tsoye by technical knockout (corner kick after round 1)
Heavyweight: Lucas Browne defeated Junior Fa by KO (Round 1)
Bottom line
Welterweight: Terry Nickolas tied with Lachlan Higgins for majority tie (58-56 Higgins, 57-57×2)
Women’s Super Fly: Taylah Robertson Defeats Sarah Higginson by Unanimous Decision (50-45×3)
Welterweight: Yoel Angeloni defeated Ken Aitken by unanimous decision (39-37×2, 40-36)