MELBOURNE, Australia – Undisputed lightweight boxing champion Devin Haney has ridiculed rival George Kambosos Jr., as a fighter reliant on excuses ahead of their world title rematch on Sunday.
Haney has promised to send the former world champion, who was defeated for the first time in 21 fights by unanimous decision in their first meeting, “into retirement” by inflicting another beating.
The unbeaten 23-year-old Haney, an American who has 15 knockouts in his 28 wins, outpointed Kambosos at Marvel Stadium to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight world titles.
Haney taunted the Australian repeatedly in a reversal of the psychological ploys Kambosos used leading into their first fight, tactics the local fighter described as being derived from “the art of war.”
During a press conference at Rod Laver Arena, which will host Sunday´s fight, the Las Vegas boxer gave his rival a copy of Sun Tzu´s renowned book “The Art of War” as a pointed reminder about the outcome of their first world title bout.
The American also interrupted journalists to ask Kambosos why he had sacked Miami-based trainer Javiel Centeno and manager Peter Kahn after that fight.
Centeno helped mastermind the Australian´s upset win over Teofino Lopez by split decision at Madison Square Garden last November.
But the Sydney boxer was no match for Haney in his subsequent title defense, with one judge scoring the fight 118-110 and the other two 116-112 in favor of the American.
Jim Kambosos, the Australian´s father, blamed Centeno for the defeat, saying the trainer “did not execute the right instructions for George” and there was “no urgency in the corner.”
The Kambosos camp has claimed Haney was allowed to get away with illegally holding the Australian during the first fight and has repeatedly criticized the refereeing over the past four months.
Kambosos also said he was distracted by trying to promote the fight in Australia as the champion and was not pleased with his preparation leading into the June meeting. But Haney is not impressed by the Australian camp´s interpretation of events.
“They keep making up excuses. Now it is the coach. Before it was the referee. (They said) I was holding. They make every excuse in the book,” Haney said according to AP.
“Why did you fire your whole team if that was the case? If truly you feel like I was holding too much, why would you fire your whole team?”
Although the Australian said he would “shock the world again”, Kambosos stressed he has learned a lesson from the loss to Haney and will let his boxing do the talking on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Kambosos, who has reunited with his original trainer Chris Bakis, said he was distracted by the hype heading into his first bout as the world champion.
“I am zoned in on this moment. Nothing will break my focus. Nothing will break my tunnel vision. I am not interested in any of that now,” Kambosos said.
