MELBOURNE, Australia — George Kambosos Jr is laying his boxing career on the line, saying his rematch with American Devin Haney in October could be his last fight if it ends in defeat.
Kambosos surrendered his three lightweight world title belts in their unification bout in front of more than 40,000 spectators at Marvel Stadium in early June, with a dominant Haney winning with a unanimous decision.
The Sydneysider enforced a rematch clause with Haney to again travel to Melbourne for the October 16 fight at Rod Laver Arena, which has a smaller capacity of around 15,000.
Adding an extra layer to the duel, the victor is next year set to take on either Vasiliy Lomachenko, who has relocated to the US after defending Ukraine against Russia, or former champion Jamaine Ortiz, with their fight later in October.
With talent at every turn in the 135lb division, Kambosos admitted the fight could be his last if it ended in defeat.
“It’s a great division but for me, I’m 29 so for me it’s do or die,” Kambosos told reporters on Tuesday.
“If I don’t overcome this fight you will not see me back in Australia fighting domestic guys; that’s not me.
“Everything I have I will be putting into that ring and my training, and god willing I will be victorious.
“Do or die, it could be the last time you see Kambosos or I’ve got all the belts back.”
With a record now 20-1, Kambosos was held at bay by Haney’s relentless jab, with the 23-year-old controlling the fight from the outside.
Kambosos didn’t want to reveal what changes he would make in his fight plan but hoped there would be less holding allowed by the referee.
“The changes will be made and I’m sure Haney is going to make more changes as well and I look forward to doing my talking in the ring,” Kambosos said.
“I’m not going to take it away from Devin, a fantastic win, but hope the referee this time does justice for the fight.”
Everywhere as he promoted the June fight, Kambosos has since been low key and said he returned to the life he led before shocking another American Teofimo Lopez last year to become world champion.
He said he felt more comfortable with the underdog tag.
“It’s been like that (the underdog tag) my whole career,” the father of three said.
“For the Lopez fight, for the (Lee) Selby fight, even against (Mickey) Bey back in the day, it’s always been like that.
“The only time it changes is the first fight with Haney, where in the back of your mind you do have that rematch clause, it wasn’t do or die, that’s not when I’m at my best.”
Haney extended his record to 28-0 and said becoming undisputed world champion was only the start of his story.
“It was a dream come true for me to be become undisputed and my name mentioned with the greats but it doesn’t stop there,” he said on a video cross from Las Vegas.
“I want my name to be mentioned with Pernell Whitaker, he was undisputed but he defended his belts and I want to do the same thing.”