George Kambosos Jr has hit out at criticism suggesting he’s “creating the narrative” that a potential bout with WBC lightweight titleholder Devin Haney can only go ahead if it takes place in Australia.
Haney’s father and business manager, Bill Haney, made it known publicly that he now wants a title fight to take place in the USA.
Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) is now the WBO, WBA, and IBF lightweight champion following his stunning defeat of Teofimo Lopez last year.
He has been in talks to fight Haney (27-0, 15 KOs), with the Australian looking to become the undisputed champion of their division.
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Haney holds the only belt Kambosos still desires – the WBC lightweight belt.
And while Kambosos has said on several occasions that he wants his next bout to take place on home soil, Haney’s manager claims it’s an unrealistic option.
“The pandemic forced Australia to be on 50 per cent lockdown… I can only say that’s one of the reasons why the fight isn’t getting as much support for the fight being there as they initially thought,” Bill Haney told BoxingScene.com.
“We have football stadiums that are sold out here [in the United States].
“I think in the US, we’ve gotten control of that evil disease, COVID-19.
“You see stadiums sold out. It’s pretty much plugged and played at this point in time. If you put Devin’s name with Kambosos it’s a big event.
“Let’s stop creating the narrative that it only can happen in Australia. Let’s open it up and let’s open up talks that it can happen anywhere in the world. It’s whoever brings the most money. Don’t you think so?”
Australia’s other boxing darling, Tim Tszyu, has been selling out arenas in Australia, and a Kambosos bout would undoubtedly also have punters flocking for tickets Down Under.
https://twitter.com/georgekambosos/status/1490554477296107522
Following those comments from the Haney camp, Kambosos took to social media to label it “embarrassing”.
“I fought in England, Greece, Malaysia, New Zealand and four times in America to become world champion,” Kambosos tweeted.
“I earned my stripes while some of these boys with bigger egos than accolades can’t even go to another American state to fight. Let alone 8000 miles, down under.
“How embarrassing.”