One of the biggest fights in boxing will take place Saturday inside Marvel Stadium in Australia. George Kambosos Jr. and Devin Haney, two proud champions, fight to determine who will be the undisputed lightweight champion.
Kambosos made his pro debut in 2013 at age 19. An Australian, WBA-PABA and WBA Oceania lightweight champion, Kambosos beat Mickey Bey and Lee Selby in 2019 and 2020, respectively. After multiple postponements due to COVID-19 and contract disputes, Kambosos faced off against Teofimo Lopez in November 2021 for the WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles. Kambosos dominated against the young champion, beating him via split decision.
Haney turned pro at 17 after winning seven National titles. Fighting primarily out of Mexico to start his career, Haney won the WBC Youth lightweight title in 2017. Haney won the interim WBC lightweight title in 2019 against Antonio Moran. Promoted as the champion, Haney has defended the belt four times. His last fight was a unanimous decision win over Joseph Diaz in December.
For the first time since Pernell Whitaker in the ’90s, an undisputed lightweight champion will be crowned. The Sporting News’ Thomas Naghten, Albert Perez and Dan Yanofsky joined forces to discuss all things Kambosos vs. Haney.
What is your excitement level for George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney?
Tom Naghten: A fight of this magnitude hasn’t been seen on Australian shores since Jeff Horn defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2017. Even then, the local hope in Horn was just a challenger and there was only one belt on the line. On this occasion, neither fighter has tasted defeat. Both are in or are entering their athletic primes, and all the belts are on the line. Expect the hostilities between the pair to ramp up during the week. It should come to a boiling point in front of a raucous crowd at Marvel Stadium.
10/10
Albert Perez: Obviously, in Australia, this fight is a mega-event on par with Jeff Fenech vs. Azumah Nelson 2 (1992) and Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn (2017). In the U.S., the match has generated some buzz. A lot of boxing media has made the trip Down Under, and ESPN, which will air the fight, has given Devin Haney the red carpet treatment across its platforms. George Kambosos Jr. has been garnering attention by channeling his inner Conor McGregor with his intense, boisterous trash talk this week. Haney has been cool, calm and collected. Kambosos’ brazenness has earned the American fighter a lot of support at home. That this match is for all the major titles at 135, well, that’s just the icing on the cake.
7/10
Dan Yanofsky: What a two-month stretch for boxing! June opens up with a fight that may be one to remember. Devin Haney finally gets his wish to fight for all the gold, while George Kambosos Jr. has a chance to prove his win against Teofimo Lopez was just the beginning. With an Australian crowd of more than 40,000 inside Marvel Stadium and airing on ESPN, this has a true recipe for success.
Kambosos has turned into a true star with his selling of the fight. Haney has been calm throughout the process, all things considered. The lightweight division may be one of the richest in boxing today, and these two are leading the charge. Expect literal and figurative fireworks during fight night.
9/10
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Kambosos vs. Haney prediction
Albert Perez: There is no doubt that Devin Haney is a superior boxer compared to George Kambosos Jr. His footwork and ring IQ are elite. While it’s true that he lacks punching power (Haney only has a 55% KO percentage in his 27 fights), brawling isn’t his style. He works off his great jab and keeps a distance. And that is what he will do against Kambosos’ rudimentary “go forward” style.
Haney will be on the road for this one, but hostile environments are nothing new for him. He fought a lot of his early matches in Tijuana, Mexico, as a teen. Haney will also be without two key members of his team — trainer Ben Davison and father Bill Haney — because of travel restrictions. Devin has shown that he is a very disciplined fighter at just 23 years old. He should have no issues sticking to his game plan and adjusting. The clock will strike midnight for Kambosos. As he tries to close in on Haney, he will eat a lot of counters. Kambosos will also get frustrated when he can’t get Haney in front to do damage.
Haney isn’t Teofimo Lopez, who faced Kambosos with myriad personal issues. Kambosos will be willed by the home crowd and have his moments. It won’t be enough.
Prediction: Haney by split decision
Tom Naghten: What sort of Australian would I be if didn’t back my countryman? Having witnessed enough Kambosos predictions turn into reality in recent years, it’s hard to envision him being wrong. I expect this to be an absolutely enthralling battle of styles, with both men having moments of success. Kambosos will start fast as Haney searches for his rhythm and finds his feet in hostile territory. The American is too slick and too dangerous to write off. He will trouble Kambosos on occasion, but the relentless pace and will to win of the Aussie will eventually become overwhelming in the later rounds.
Prediction: Kambosos by Round 11 TKO
Dan Yanofsky: Against Teofimo Lopez, George Kambosos broke down the former champion. Using jabs to his advantage, Kambosos can very well do it again against Devin Haney. Haney will be dealing with a lot in this fight, from mind games, to his trainer and father not being allowed in the country, to what could be a raucous Australian crowd.
What separates Haney from the rest, however, is his patience. Utilizing his jab, Haney has neutralized opponents long enough to take them down. That is how 15 of his 27 wins have come by way of knockout. The big issue will be to see whether he can maintain a consistent plan of attack against Kambosos. If that is the case, then Haney may very well get the job done. In a fight that has the chance to be a classic, Haney will have to do everything in his power to prove he is the best. Will the judges play a factor in this one? We certainly don’t want another Jeff Horn vs. Manny Pacquiao result on our hands, right?
Prediction: Haney via Round 8 KO/TKO
When is George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney?
Kambosos vs. Haney takes place on Sunday, June 5 local time in Australia. It’s an afternoon fight in Australia, which means it will take place during primetime in the United States and Canada.
|
Country |
USA/CA | UK | Australia |
| Date | June 4 | June 4 |
June 5 |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET | 11 p.m. GMT | 9 a.m. AEST |
| Main Event | 12 a.m. ET | 4 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEST |
The main card should begin at 9 a.m. AEST and 7 p.m. ET. Kambosos and Haney should make their way to the ring around 2 p.m. AEST and 12 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney
- TV channel: ESPN+ | ESPN
- Live stream (PPV): ESPN+, BT Sport Box Office, Main Event
The Kambosos vs. Haney main card will air on ESPN. It can be live-streamed through ESPN+.
MORE: George Kambosos’ brutal warning for ‘nothing special’ Devin Haney
For those in the U.K., the fight will air via the BT Sport Box Office.
Foxtel’s pay-per-view service Main Event will broadcast the bout in Australia. Boxing fans in Australia can also use the streaming service Kayo.
George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney price: How much does the card cost?
You can pay $6.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $69.99.
In Australia, Fans will be charged AU$59.95 for the event on Main Event. A Kayo subscription is not required in order to watch the fight on that platform.
The main card is also available for purchase via most major cable and satellite providers.
| Product | Overall Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $6.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $69.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
George Kambosos Jr. vs. Devin Haney fight card
- George Kambosos (c) vs. Devin Haney (c) for the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF, and The Ring lightweight titles
- Andrew Moloney vs. Alexander Espinoza; Super-Flyweights
- Amari Jones vs. Ankush Hooda; Super-Welterweight
- Jason Moloney vs. Aston Palicte; Bantamweights
- Junior Fa vs. Lucas Browne; Heavyweights
- Hemi Ahio vs. Joe Jones; Heavyweights
- David Nyika vs. Billy Ching; Cruiserweights
- Terry Nickolas vs. Lachlan Higgins; Super-Welterweights
- Taylah Robertson vs. Sarah Higginson; Super-Flyweights
- Isaias Sette vs. Luke Gersbeck; Super-Welterweights
- Yoel Angeloni vs. Ken Aitken; Welterweights
- Hussein Fayad vs. Pom Thanawut Phetkum; Super-Featherweights