Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr. II: date, time, how to watch, background
Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney will face George Kambosos Jr. a second time Saturday in Melbourne, Australia (ESPN, ESPN+).
DEVIN HANEY (28-0, 15 KOs) VS. GEORGE KAMBOSOS JR. (20-1, 10 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 15 (Oct. 16 in Australia)
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (11 a.m. AEST) (main event later in show)
- Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia
- TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
- Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
- At stake: Haney’s undisputed championship
- Pound-for-pound ranking: Haney, Honorable Mention
- Odds: Haney 8-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Jason Maloney vs. Nawaphon Kaikanha, bantamweights; Andrew Moloney vs. Norbelto Jimenez, junior bantamweights; Cherneka Johnson vs. Susie Ramadan, junior featherweights (for Johnson’s IBF title)
- Prediction: Haney UD
- Background: Some might argue that then-undisputed lightweight champion Kambosos didn’t earn a rematch with Haney, who outclassed the Aussie to win a wide decision and all four titles in June in Melbourne. However, a rematch clause is a rematch clause. And here we are again. Kambosos scored a major upset when he outpointed then-unbeaten Teofimo Lopez to win all four major 135-pound titles in November of last year. His reign lasted only one fight, though. Haney, one of the most gifted boxers in the world, overwhelmed Kambosos with his speed and all-around skill set to win a fight that was more one-sided than the official scores (118-110, 116-112 and 116-112) indicate. Boxing Junkie had Haney winning 119-109, 11 rounds to one. It seems implausible that Haney can make the adjustments necessary to turn the tables on Haney, which is why the oddsmakers have made Haney an 8-1 favorite. However, Kambosos is a capable, determined fighter. He shouldn’t be counted out before the fight starts.