There were extraordinary scenes in Melbourne on Saturday, as George Kambosos Jr missed weight ahead of his unification fight against WBC titleholder Devin Haney on Sunday.
After calling for the towel and stripping down naked, the undefeated unified WBA, IBF and WBO champion was 0.36 pounds (139grams) over the 135 pound weight limit.
The 28-year-old has two hours to lose the weight.
His competitor Haney easily made the weight, hitting the scales at 134.92 pounds (61.19kg).
The American then taunted his Australian rival, saying: “He ain’t s—, he ain’t made weight.”
“I knew what I had to do, I made weight, and I’m a true champion.
“I mean he’s sucked up, he’s dry, I don’t know, it is what it is, we’ve still got to go in there and fight. But I’m a true champion and true champions make weight.”
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Kambosos doens’t make weight at weigh inSource: FOX SPORTS
It was a double dose of good news for Haney, who found out on Friday night that his father and lead trainer, Bill, had been given an 11th hour visa.
“That meant everything to me,” Haney said.
“Thank you to the Victorian Government for making it happen, thank you to God and I can’t wait for my dad to make it.”
Nerves?
“No nerves, man, I’m ready,” he said bullishly.
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Boxing Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech said Haney looked “great” and would be up to “150 pounds) by the time he takes to the ring.
But Fenech was left “disappointed” by Kambosos’ failure to make weight and his decision to weigh himself on his hotel scales.
“First thing is, I’ve got to be honest, for me you always come and check your weight on the official scales,” Fenech said.
“He checked them on his scales apparently at his hotel and they said he was on weight (but) the official scales are what count. A little disappointing that.
“There’s not much weight to lose. It’ll be easy. But still, it’s another half-an-hour he’s got to be doing something that he shouldn’t be doing.”
Over confident?
“I’m not sure about overconfident, but it’s usual protocol that you go and check your weight on the official scales because all scales weigh a little differently,” Fenech said.
The Australian great was also left perplexed by Kambosos’ camp’s decision to engage in a verbal barrage, with his father, Jim, in the middle of the exchange on stage.
“We saw George’s dad get in a scuffle again, which is totally unneeded,” Fenech said.
“I’m not sure what was said, but they don’t need to do that. It might hype the crowd up and hype the sport up, but it’s not great for the sport.”
Weight:
George Kambosos Jr: – 135.36 pounds (61.39kg)
Devin Haney: 134.92 pounds (61.19kg)
READ MORE
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KAMBOSOS JR v HANEY TALE OF THE TAPE
Boxing record: Kambosos 20-0 (10 KO), Haney 27-0 (15 KO)
Age: Kambosos 28, Haney 23
Height: Kambosos 176cm, Haney 173cm
Reach: Kambosos 173cm, Haney 180cm
Stance: Kambosos orthodox, Haney orthodox
ODDS
Kambosos $2.35, Haney $1.60
WHEN DOES IT START
The boxing action begins at 9.05am AEST on Sunday with live coverage on Fox Sports from 9.30am AEST. The main card, available via Main Event, is scheduled to commence at 11am with Kambosos v Haney expected to start sometime after 1pm.
There are also two big fights after the main event.
HOW TO WATCH
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Kambosos & Haney: Intense 2-min face-off | 02:02
MAIN CARD
From 11am AEST
George Kambosos vs. Devin Haney – 12 rounds for WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring lightweight world titles
Jason Moloney vs. Aston Palicte – 10 rounds at bantamweight
Junior Fa vs. Lucas Browne – 10 rounds at heavyweight
Hemi Ahio vs. Christian Tsoye – eight rounds at heavyweight
David Nyika vs. Karim Maatalla – four or six rounds at cruiserweight
Undercard
From 9.30am AEST.
Terry Nickolas vs. Lachlan Higgins – six rounds at super-welterweight
Isaias Sette vs. Luke Gersbeck – four rounds at super-welterweight
Hussein Fayad vs. Pom Thanawut Phetkum – four rounds at super-featherweight
Taylah Robertson vs. Sarah Higginson – five rounds at super-flyweight
Yoel Angeloni vs. Ken Aitken – four rounds at welterweight
Post-main event bouts
Andrew Moloney vs. Alexander Espinoza – eight rounds at super-flyweight
Amari Jones vs. Ankush Hooda – six rounds at super-welterweight
FURTHER READING
From Kostya to Kambosos: The ten greatest Aussie boxing performances of all time
‘Made Kambosos look really good’: Americans suggest Aussie got lucky in famous win
‘Not about money’: The crazy conditions Devin Haney accepted in bid to become the ‘king’
George blasts ‘rat’ Haney over messages | 01:52