The Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia is the setting this Sunday, as undisputed lightweight gold is up for grabs. Returning home hero, George Kambosos Jr puts his WBA ‘super’, IBF, WBO and WBC Franchise straps on the line against WBC king, Devin Haney.
ESPN televise Kambosos Jr vs Haney in the USA, while Sky Sports take the UK rights for the clash.
Kambosos Jr (20-0, 10 KOs) has enjoyed a rapid ascent in the sport, and came out of the shadows in 2019. First, he outscored Mickey Bey by spit decision over ten rounds in December of that year, and then ten months later he got the better of a scrappy affair with Lee Selby, again via split decision, in an IBF title eliminator.
That gave the Sydney man a dream ticket of a world title shot, and his chance came over a year later. He was a firm underdog against Teofimo Lopez in New York, especially after the American had wrenched three belts from Vasiliy Lomachenko in his most recent fight, and was hot property.
‘Ferocious’ had no room to respect Lopez though, and dropped his man in the first round. He was dropped himself in the tenth, but did more than enough to earn a split verdict to become new champion.
The 28-year-old’s first defence is an interesting one, with Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) a tricky opponent.
‘The Dream’ is still only 23-years-old, and has been WBC champion since being upgraded from interim status in 2019.
The Las Vegas resident has made four successful defences of the belt to date, with points wins against the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Linares, and his last notch on his belt was in December 2021, where he comfortably outscored JoJo Diaz.
Prediction: Kambosos Jr has gate crashed his way to the top of the 135 division, and now has to be respected after an excellent win over Lopez.
Time is on Haney’s side though, and, as the fresher man, I favour him to survive some tough moments before pulling clear down the stretch to take the belts.
Moloney twins return
Jason Moloney defends his WBC Silver bantamweight strap, and looks to add the vacant WBO International belt, when he takes on Aston Palicte over ten rounds.
‘Mayhem’ Moloney (23-2, 18 KOs) has only lost in world class company, to Emmanuel Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue, but has won two on the spin since the Inoue reverse, including an impressive points win over Joshua Greer Jr.
Palicte (28-4-1, 23 KOs) has also contended for world honours, drawing with Donnie Nietes in a vacant WBO title tilt at super flyweight in 2018, and he was halted in ten by Kazuto Yoka for the same belt under a year later.
Prediction: Moloney should get the win on the cards.
Andrew Moloney (23-2, 15 KOs) has a much lower-key assignment, and he should take a clear eight round points win at super flyweight against Nicaragua’s Alexander Espinoza (21-3-2, 8 KOs), who gave Kash Farooq ten tough rounds last year.
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Fa faces Browne
Junior Fa (19-1, 10 KOs) returns from a close defeat to Joseph Parker last time out, and the New Zealander should return to winning ways against the faded former WBA heavyweight champion, Lucas Browne.
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Browne (30-3, 26 KOs) has been halted early by Dillian Whyte, Dave Allen, and more recently, in a round by Paul Gallen, but won the WBA Oceana title in his last fight, when he stopped Faiga Opelu in seven having been well behind on the cards.
Prediction: Fa can take this one in the early rounds.
Remaining Undercard
Also at heavyweight, New Zealand’s Hemi Ahio (18-0, 13 KOs) should take care of Christian Ndzie Tsoye (5-4-2, 4 KOs) inside the distance of their eight rounder.
At cruiserweight, 2020 Olympic Bronze medalist, David Nyika (2-0, 2 KOs) can score a third straight early win against Karim Maatalla (2-1, 2 KOs).
In six round action, Terri Nickolas (2-1, 2 KOs) can take a points win at middleweight against Lachlan Higgins (7-4-1, 2 KOs), and at super welterweight, Amari Jones (5-0, 5 KOs) can maintain his knockout streak against Ankush Honda (3-0-1, 1 KO).
Taylah Robertson (4-1, 1 KO) can outpoint unbeaten Sarah Higginson (3-0-1, 1 KO) at flyweight.
There should be wins for the three debutants on the bill, all over four rounds. Yoel Angeloni can take care of Ken Aitken (3-0, 1 KO) on the cards at welterweight, Hussein Fayad can do the same at super featherweight against Pom Thanawut Phetkum (1-1).
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Also at super welterweight, Isaias Sette should outscore Luke Gersbeck (2-0, 2 KOs).
