MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — American Devin Haney stays the undisputed lightweight boxing champion after outclassing former titleholder George Kambosos Jr. all over again in Melbourne.
Despite maintaining a minimize at the correct aspect of his face throughout the 8th around, the 23-year-old Haney was once dominant on Sunday whilst claiming a unanimous issues resolution over the Australian.
The unbeaten American has gained 29 fights, 15 of them by way of knockout, and has unified the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight belts.
Haney outpointed Kambosos, who claimed the 4 titles in an dissatisfied win over Teofino Lopez at Madison Square Garden remaining November, in Melbourne in June when claiming the lightweight belts for the primary time.
Haney proved to be the easier boxer once more with every other victory over Kambosos, who sustained cuts underneath his left eye and above his correct ear which left him bloodied overdue within the combat.
Haney’s left jab was once the variation within the first combat, however he demonstrated his versatility when the use of his correct hand to nice impact of their 2d assembly.
A decisive victor, Haney was once awarded a 118-109 verdict by way of one pass judgement on, whilst the opposite two judges rated him a 118-110 victor.
“I went in there and knew he was looking to the jab. We wanted to show some more tools in my arsenal. I think the right hand won the fight tonight,” Haney mentioned. (*4*)
A 2d immediately defeat raises questions on the way forward for the 29-year-old boxer referred to as “Ferocious” Kambosos, who fell to a 20-2 report with the loss.
Kambosos mentioned within the lead-in to their 2d combat that he would retire if overwhelmed by way of Haney once more, although he later walked again on that observation.
He mentioned it “was not the end” after the loss when praising Haney.
“He is a great fighter. For me, to have the guts to go again with him. He gave me a good boxing lesson in the first round,” he mentioned. “He is a slick guy. I gave my highest. I attempted my middle out this night. But this man goes to be there for a very long time.
“I gave him a great challenge. A great fight over 24 rounds. He is one of the best in the world in boxing, not just this division.”
Boxing from the crimson nook, the Australian began the combat neatly, pinning his rival at the ropes with a flurry of punches in a while sooner than the bell rang to finish the primary around.
But the American answered neatly within the following around as he began to take keep watch over.
The Las Vegas resident landed some robust punches throughout the 3rd around and appeared an increasing number of relaxed on each the offensive and defensive.
Haney controlled his distance neatly, regardless of the efforts from Kambosos, the use of his left jab to nice impact whilst additionally appearing nice ability along with his correct.
He was once in a position to prolong his lead within the 5th around regardless of the Sydney-based boxer touchdown some respectable frame photographs.
Having spread out a minimize underneath the Australian’s left eye, Haney peppered Kambosos with a chain of jabs within the 7th around.
With Jim Kambosos, the Australian’s father, urging the challenger to lift “the pressure,” he went after the titleholder with vigor within the 8th around.
It was once his highest collection because the latter phases of the primary around, however by way of that level just a knockout could be sufficient to safe Kambosos victory within the 12-round combat.
Sensing a conceivable momentum shift, the gang at Rod Laver Arena rallied in the back of the Australian, who was once in a position to open a minimize at the right-hand aspect of Haney’s face. But Haney answered by way of re-asserting his superiority.
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