Bill Haney arrives in Australia just HOURS before his son’s big fight: Devin Haney’s father can’t wipe the smile from his face as he jets in to be by the American’s side for title clash with George Kambosos Jr after last-minute visa U-turn
Bill Haney has touched down in Australia and is ready to be at his son’s side ahead of his huge title fight against George Kambosos Jr.
Devin Haney was expected to take on the Australian hero without the support of his father due to a 30-year-old drug conviction preventing the lead trainer from flying out to Melbourne.
However, in a dramatic last-minute twist, Haney Sr was granted a visa and flew out from Las Vegas on Friday night, landing in Melbourne on Saturday evening.
Bill Haney has touched down in Melbourne to be at his son’s side for his title fight on Sunday
Haney Jr will make his ringwalk at around 2pm local time at Marvel Stadium, giving the American precious hours to soak up advice from his father before the main event.
The elder Haney will find himself at the heart of what has been a hostile atmosphere between the two camps this fight week.
Unified lightweight king Kambosos Jr labelled his American rival a ‘rat’ for allegedly leaking information regarding former opponent Teofimo Lopez before he clinched his landmark win in New York last year.
In response, Haney called Kambosos Jr a ‘hypocrite’ as he had helped Manny Pacquiao prepare to fight his countryman Jeff Horn before their bout in 2017.
Devin Haney (R) was expected to fight without the support of his father (L) in Melbourne
A drugs conviction from 1992 looked likely to keep Haney Sr from travelling to Australia
Tensions spilled over on Saturday, too, when ‘Ferocious’ came in 0.36 pounds over the 135-pound weight limit when the pair hit the scales in Melbourne.
The Australian’s father, Jim, was reportedly involved in ‘animated’ discussions with Haney’s team, unhappy with the large amount of people hailing from the American’s entourage on stage. It has been claimed that movement on stage caused the scales to shake slightly, which may have contributed to Kambosos Jr missing weight first time around.
The Aussie was quick to dismiss the impact of his failure to hit the 135-pound lightweight mark after shedding the excess.
‘Art of war, baby, deception, let them believe that this was done … maybe I did this on purpose,’ he told the cheering crowd after taking to the scales again.
‘It changes nothing, it changes his (Haney’s) mindset now.’
However, a last minute visa U-turn means the father and trainer will be supporting his son
Asked how he got rid of the 160 grams, he laughed and s
Kambosos’ father Jim texted, ‘Hot shower. Already on weight,’ half an hour after the first weight attempt, News Corp reported. aid, ‘I took a p**s, it was easy, I chilled out, I was about to have a free coffee.’
Kambosos clashed with Haney and got into his face when it first became apparent he’d missed the mark, with the American asked what they said to each other.
‘I said he ain’t s**t, he didn’t make weight,’ Haney responded.
Haney aims to become undisputed lightweight champion at Marvel Stadium on Sunday
‘He’s sucked up, he’s dry … I’m a true champion and champions make weight.’
Kambosos was heckled by a clearly overjoyed Haney camp when his first attempt to make weight failed, and he walked straight over and got into a shouting match with the American.
He then returned to the scales completely naked with a white towel covering his midsection, but losing his underwear still wasn’t enough to see him make the limit.
His father Jim appeared to be close to getting into a physical clash with Haney’s team as they shouted insults at his son.
Haney had no problems on the scales, coming in at 134.92 pounds.
Source: Daily Mail Online