George Kambosos Jr always thought he had what it takes to be the best in world but it wasn’t until he started sparring with Manny Pacquiao that it really sunk in.
The Australian boxing superstar, 28, confirmed the Filipino legend will be ringside to cheer him on against Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on June 5.
More than 50,000 fans are expected to pack into the arena for the megafight with The Emperor putting his lightweight WBA, IBF, and WBO world titles on the line against the American WBC belt-holder.
George Kambosos will fight Devin Haney at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on June 5
Kambosos, now 20-0, told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that gloving up against the eight-division champion for more than 250 rounds earlier in his career forged him into the fighter he is today.
If successful against the hungry 23-year-old favourite, sources within his camp say he sits on the precipice of the biggest fight in Australian boxing history – with Vasiliy Lomachenko prepared to travel Down Under to try and reclaim his belts in November.
‘My time with Manny Pacquiao was invaluable for my career especially earlier in my career when I was doing my 12-round preparation like he was,’ Kambosos said.
‘I knew that when I got to my championship fight I would know exactly what I had to do to become victorious and become world champion.’
Kambosos Jr always thought he had what it takes to be the best in world but it wasn’t until he started sparring with Manny Pacquiao that it really sunk in
Haney, 23, will face off against Kambosos in Melbourne after travelling from the US
The two first met five years ago in Los Angeles when the Sydneysider was training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club.
‘Back then, he said to me that I’d become world champion and hearing that from an all-time great, hearing that from a guy like Manny Pacquiao, that gave me that extra boost,’ Kambosos said.
‘He told me in 2017 that I could be world champion right now, but I said no I’m going to be patient, my time will come.’
The Australian boxing superstar, 28 (pictured during an open workout on Thursday), confirmed the Filipino legend will be ringside to cheer him on against Haney
Kambosos told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that gloving up against the eight-division champion for more than 250 rounds earlier in his career made him the fighter he is today
The Emperor is the lightweight WBA, IBF, and WBO world champion and shocked the world in November by defeating Teófimo López at Madison Square Garden in New York
Kambosos, who shocked the world in November by defeating Teófimo López at Madison Square Garden, said the two still keep in touch and that he’s been following the boxer-turned senator’s campaign for president of the Philippines.
‘I’m hearing he is going to be here so I look forward to catching up with him,’ he revealed.
‘Unfortunately he didn’t succeed in his recent bid to become president of the Philippines but he is a strong man so I’m sure he’ll continue to push for the next election.’
Manny Pacquiao pictured taking on Yordenis Ugas (left) on August 21, 2021 in Las Vegas
Kambosos Jr (right) and Pacquiao did over 250 rounds of sparring together for three years
Pacquiao entered politics in 2010 and has been serving as a senator in the Philippines since 2016. This year he was among the candidates for the presidential election
Drama has surrounded the upcoming clash between the two undefeated fighters with Kambosos originally scheduled to take on Lomachenko.
Russia’s invasion of southpaw’s homeland saw the former champion turn down the fight to take up arms against Putin’s forces.
Haney, with a record of 27-0, was the obvious next in line and is heavily favoured to unify the belts even though his father and head coach, Bill, has been blocked from taking the trip to Australia.
A three-decades old drug conviction was enough to stifle his visa application, leaving Haney to be cornered by Yoel Judah – the father of former two-weight world champion Zab Judah.
Vasiliy Lomachenko (left) is pictured taking on Richard Commey (right) on December 11, 2021 during their WBO lightweight world title bout at the MSG in New York City
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw Lomachenko (left) turn down the fight to take up arms against Vladimir Putin’s forces instead
Kambosos’ camp are expecting the veteran trainer turn up the heat in fight week to try and get under their skin, but they say they’re ready for any underhanded tactics.
The American is known for his sharp jab and precision pull-counters, but Kambosos is ‘not worried about his power’.
‘He thinks he has a good pull-counter, he thinks he’s a good counter puncher,’ Kambosos said.
‘Let’s see how long that lasts for him when I put my hands on him. Everything I bring to the table is too much for him and he’ll find that out real quick.’
Kambosos Jr etched his name in Australian boxing folklore with a stunning points victory over Teofimo Lopez in their unified lightweight championship bout in November last year
Kambosos defeated Lopez to claim the WBO, WBA and IBF titles
One of the more controversial aspects of Kambosos’ preparation for the fight has been his heavy weightlifting.
The Aussie boxing champ said he’s been squatting more than double his bodyweight – something commonly believed by old-school trainers to make a fighter slower.
‘I’ve been lifting heavy weights with resistance bands for many, many years and I’m one of the fastest fighters in the world,’ he said.
‘So that old saying that weights slow you down is just a myth and I’ve proven that.’
The 28-year-old boxing champion from Sydney is pictured with his young family
Kambosos said his high-tech strength and conditioning team measure his workout using ‘velocity readers’ to make sure his movement remains explosive.
‘If I’m stacking 150kg to squat and it’s taking me 0.1 metres per second to lift, it’s too heavy for me,’ he explained.
‘But If I’m stacking that weight like I do, and I’m lifting it at 1.5 or 2.0, the weight is perfect for me.
‘We make sure that we are not lifting and struggling to get through it. We make sure the speed is there, the explosiveness is there and that is why I’m the most explosive fighter in the world.’
Source: Daily Mail Online