Kambosos vs Haney LIVE: Stream, latest updates and fight result tonight
Re-live updates from the main event at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium
Devin Haney became undisputed lightweight champion on Sunday with a unanimous-decision win against George Kambosos Jr, putting on a clinic to beat the Australian in hostile territory in Melbourne. Both fighters entered the main-event contest with belts on their shoulders and unbeaten records to boot, but it was Haney who left Marvel Stadium with all the gold, adding Kambosos Jr’s WBA, WBO and IBF titles to his WBC strap.
American Haney, 23, produced a near-shutout performance to dethrone Kambosos Jr and hand the 28-year-old the first defeat of his professional career, with the judges’ scorecards somewhat kind to the Australian in reading 116-112, 116-112, 118-110. From the opening bell Haney fought from behind his jab, timing his shots well and disrupting the rhythm of Kambosos Jr as the home fighter looked to counter-punch. Haney stayed disciplined and consistent throughout the bout, while Kambosos Jr became increasingly frustrated as he began to sport bruises and miss with lunging hooks.
Bad blood seemed be boiling in the lead-up to the fight, but rather than spilling it over it simply evaporated after the decision was announced, with both lightweights paying one another respect. “I take my hat off to him, because he’s a true warrior,” Haney said. “Even though he got disrespectful, I stayed a gentleman and I stayed respectful. I want to thank George Kambosos and all of Australia for coming out.”
Re-live updates below.
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
You can read our full fight report here:
Devin Haney produces clinic against George Kambosos Jr to become undisputed champion
The 23-year-old American secured a unanimous-decision win in hostile territory in Melbourne
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Kambosos Jr: “This is gonna make me hungrier. I gave him the opportunity, I’m sure he’ll give me the opportunity as champion now.”
Haney: “I’m not ducking or dodging nobody, but it’s got to make sense.”
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Haney: “From Round 1 to Round 12, I boxed comfortably.
“My dad came up with a great gameplan, and we stuck to it the whole fight.
“I would say I give myself 11 out of 12 rounds. I would say [he won] the last round, I took it off.
“As the fight was going on, I felt him giving up more and more. I wanted to stick to my gameplan.”
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Kambosos Jr: “This is amazing for the sport, amazing for this country.
“I want to take the best tests, the hardest tests. We’ll do it again. I thought the fight was very close, but look, I’m not gonna wreck his moment.
“The [weight-cut] was definitely not a factor. He just boxed his game. He didn’t want to come to fight too much, but that’s his game.
“All respect to him. I take the risk, I fight the best of the best. I didn’t have to fight him. F*** protecting records.
“Great event, these are great memories for my kids.”
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Haney: “This is a dream come true. I was going through it without my dad being here, because I knew this was a big moment for both of us.
“It would have hurt me to accomplish this without him.
“The gameplan was to go in there, hit and not be hit [...] I took the last round off.
“I handicapped him of his best things. I take my hat off to him, because he’s a true warrior.
“Even though he got disrespectful, I stayed a gentleman and I stayed respectful. I want to thank George Kambosos and all of Australia for coming out.
“Thanks, George, for giving me the shot. He was a true champion and gave me the shot, so thank you for this.”
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Devin Haney def. George Kambosos Jr via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 118-110).
Kambosos Jr nods in acknowledgement. No disputing that. And now Haney is quite literally undisputed.
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Kambosos Jr might have won the second round. He might have won none.
He is the home fighter, though, so you genuinely can’t rule out anything...
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Round 12
Final round.
Kambosos Jr trips while missing wiht a left hook. He stumbles into the ropes as Haney circles out of danger.
Kambosos Jr digs some hooks into Haney’s midriff in close.
The crowd picks up the volume as we enter the final minute of the fight.
We reach the final bell and Haney tries to embrace Kambosos Jr, who isn’t too keen.
Haney climbs the ropes in the corner and receives some hearty boos.
Kambosos Jr vs Haney
Round 11
Kambosos Jr needs a finish here and he seems to know it.
He goes after Haney, who evades deftly while flicking out some counter strikes.
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