George Kambosos, Devin Haney agree to undisputed lightweight title fight in June

George Kambosos and Devin Haney have struck a deal for a June 5 battle for the undisputed light-weight championship at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, resources explain to ESPN.

The bout will take place Sunday afternoon in Australia to accommodate a June 4 key-time broadcast in the United States on ESPN, sources reported.

Haney, a growing star from Las Vegas, has competed on DAZN for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing through his earlier 6 fights, but his deal expired. The 23-year-previous Haney signed a multifight co-promotional offer with Best Rank and Lou DiBella to fight solely on ESPN platforms, resources explained.

The deal involves a rematch clause if Haney (27-, 15 KOs) wins, sources mentioned. In the function Kambosos (20-, 10 KOs) loses and workout routines his appropriate to a return bout, that fight also would consider location in his indigenous Australia. Even if Haney loses, his subsequent bout afterward would be co-promoted by Top rated Rank and DiBella.

Kambosos, who holds all 4 important sanctioning body titles at 135 lbs, needed an opponent for the to start with protection of his championship soon after Vasiliy Lomachenko resolved to continue being in war-torn Ukraine instead than head to Australia for coaching camp.

Lomachenko had agreed to a offer before Russia invaded Ukraine. Following officers concerned were being educated Monday that Lomachenko was out, talks resumed with DAZN for a Kambosos-Haney bout.

DiBella, who encourages Kambosos, could not arrive at a deal with DAZN to stream the bout so he pivoted to ESPN, this time with Haney as the opponent.

Kambosos, 28, defeated Teofimo Lopez in November to capture 4 titles in ESPN’s Upset of the Calendar year. The fight was brutal from the opening bell Kambosos dropped Lopez in Spherical 1 but was compelled to endure a 10th-spherical knockdown en route to the split-final decision victory.

The Australian is rated No. 1 by ESPN at light-weight, but he’ll be installed as an underdog at the time yet again. Haney, ESPN’s No. 4 boxer at 135 lbs ., broke out in 2021 with determination victories around previous champions Jorge Linares and Joseph Diaz Jr. in May and December, respectively.

The easy-boxing Haney is just not a energy puncher but possesses an fantastic jab and is regarded as one particular of the sport’s very best defensive fighters.

Kambosos was not nicely-regarded in advance of he gained a title shot with a split-determination earn in excess of Lee Selby in October 2020. Even then, he was seen as a plan title protection in opposition to Lopez, then observed as one particular of the sport’s top pound-for-pound boxers.

But Kambosos shocked the boxing world with his grit, mix punching and electric power in just one of the most effective performances of 2021.

Adding intrigue to the fight is the debate with regards to the WBC title. Kambosos gained the IBF, WBO, WBA titles and the WBC franchise title from Lopez. Haney is the holder of the WBC’s title as well.

Though many regard Kambosos as an undisputed champion, there are also individuals who believe Haney has a respectable declare to his possess WBC title. Haney was elevated from interim titleholder to WBC winner though Lomachenko was specified franchise champ. Loma then lost the titles to Lopez in October 2020 before Lopez was defeated by Kambosos.

If Haney can defeat Kambosos two times, there will be plentiful options for him on ESPN. He is mentioned a bounce to 140 pounds in the around long term, the place he could be matched with Lopez. But if remains at 135, a higher-stakes showdown with Lomachenko is feasible in 2023, as is a fight with Ryan Garcia.

But 1st, Haney will travel midway all over the planet for his shot at light-weight supremacy.