George Kambosos Jr makes a super lightweight debut on home turf this Saturday at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, as the former unified lightweight world champion takes on fellow Aussie Jake Wyllie over a scheduled 12 rounds.
Kambosos was due to face Daud Yordan, but the Indonesian had to withdraw on medical grounds, and in steps Wyllie for a massive chance to gatecrash the scene at 140 pounds.
Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing promote the card, which will be shown on DAZN worldwide.
Kambosos (21-3, 10 KOs) gatecrashed the scene himself at lightweight in 2021, as he dropped and stunned Teofimo Lopez to take the IBF, WBA and WBO titles with a split decision win.
Since that famous night, the 31-year-old’s career has failed to gain further traction, as he lost his belts in a first defence on the cards to Devin Haney, and was beaten even more widely in a rematch four months later.
‘Ferocious’ would pick up the IBO crown, but looked fortunate to get a majority nod against Maxi Hughes in July 2023, and then lost out to Vasiliy Lomachenko in a bid for the IBF title last May, stopped in the penultimate round.
Wyllie (16-1, 15 KOs) was stunned in three rounds by the 0-2 Faavesi Isaako in February 2023, but has won eight on the spin since, all via the early route.
November 2024 saw the 24-year-old Queenslander claim the vacant Australian title with a fourth round stoppage of Dylan Emery, but his most recent outing ended in frustration, with Allan Villanueva ruled out after three rounds due to a cut, with Wyllie dominating at the time.
Prediction: Kambosos will want to impress and put himself in the shop window at world title level at his new weight, and he can do this by scoring a stoppage in the first half of this one.
Nicolson battles Brown
Skye Nicolson makes a third defence of her WBC featherweight world title, as she takes on Tiara Brown.
Nicolson (12-0, 1 KOs) won the vacant belt in April last year, and her last defence came in October 2024, securing a wide points win against Raven Chapman.
Florida’s Brown (18-0, 11 KOs) is unproven at this level, and has only been ten rounds on one previous occasion.
The 36-year-old won all eight rounds of her most recent bout, a points win against Calista Silgado in January.
Prediction: Nicolson has impressed since becoming world champion, and I expect her to retain on the cards against her inexperienced opponent here.
Johnson rematches Hughes
A rematch sees WBA bantamweight world champion, Cherneka Johnson defend her title in a rematch against Nina Hughes.
The pair met in May last year, with England’s Hughes (6-1, 2 KOs) wrongly announced the winner, only for Johnson (16-2, 6 KOs) to take a majority verdict.
Prediction: I think Johnson can retain her title with a clear points win this time around.
Remaining Undercard
The final ten rounder comes at light heavyweight, where Imam Khataev (9-0, 9 KOs) can take another early win, this time against Durval Elias Palacio (14-3, 11 KOs).
The sole eight rounder is at heavyweight, where Hemi Ahio (23-1, 17 KOs) should get the job done against Aekkaphob Auraiwan (9-3-1, 7 KOs) inside the distance.
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Exciting former Olympian, Teremoana Teremoana (6-0, 6 KOs) can continue his perfect record, by halting James Singh (12-5, 11 KOs) in their heavyweight clash set for six.
In a super lightweight four rounder, Jayden Buan (3-0, 2 KOs) can win early against Jordan Kasilieris (1-3-1, 1 KO).
