There are many signs that point to Devin Haney‘s incredible confidence on the cusp of his world-title lightweight-unification duel with Australian George Kambosos Jr, but the 23-year-old American is still harbouring one worry.
Although reluctant, the man Kambosos Jr branded a “rat” has got the COVID-19 jab for Sunday’s fight in Melbourne, and agreed to switch promoter and network.
Haney has also committed to a rematch in Australia, and he’s remained dedicated to the bout despite the federal government’s refusal to grant his dad and trainer entry into the country due to a prior conviction.
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Haney has bowed to a long list of commands to ensure his dream fight goes ahead.
But he’s revealed he’s feeling uneasy about the officiating.
“You guys (team Kambosos) can have whatever you want,” Haney told Cigar Talk.
“You guys wanted the bigger lump sum of the money, or you guys wanted to be there (home country). Whatever the case may be.
“I just wanted fair judges, I wanted a fair playing ground and that’s all.”
Frank Stea, who helped organise Haney’s training program at Top Rank, is also agonising over the judges.
“My only concern, just like anyone from the United States, is how fair the officiating is, how fair the judges are going to be,” Stea told Fox Sports.
“We know it’s not going to be local judges.
“It’s also a crowd. You guys are expecting 40,000-plus.”
Haney will take to the Kambosos Jr clash with a 27-0-0 record that boasts 15 knockouts.
Yoel Judah, the father and trainer of former American boxing ace Zab Judah, is overseeing Haney in the absence of his dad and trainer, Bill.
“I pretty much agreed to everything that they wanted,” Haney told fighthype.com.
“No matter what it was. I didn’t argue. We didn’t get (anything) our way, but we didn’t do (any) arguing. We said, ‘Whatever we can do to make the fight happen’. If I go over there on another network, with another promoter, which is my promoter now, to make the fight happen, so be it. If I have to rematch you twice in Australia, so be it.
“It didn’t matter. I just wanted the belts. I want my name in the history books forever. There have only been six people that did it and I look to be the next.
“There will finally be a king in the lightweight division – and it will be me.”
Kambosos Jr has a record of 20-0-0 (10 knockouts) and is set for his first fight since his instantly famous triumph over American upstart Teofimo Lopez in November.
Kambosos clinched the WBA, WBO and IBF world lightweight titles in his defeat of Lopez.
The 28-year-old from Sydney will do battle with Haney at Docklands Stadium.
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