Although it is not a battle many individuals have been calling for after their first encounter, the rematch between Devin Haney and George Kambosos takes place this weekend in Melbourne, writes Elliot Worsell
REMATCHES in boxing are inclined to occur for all method of causes, with some extra official and worthy than others. There’ll, for starters, be the rematch that’s triggered by the shut nature of a primary battle, or in some instances the controversial nature of a primary battle. There can even be the rematch as reward for the motion followers witnessed between two fighters in battle primary. Then there will likely be rematches contracted or, in different phrases, agreed earlier than we’ve even had an opportunity to see what occurs when the 2 boxers share a hoop.
The final of these causes normally comes into play when a champion has been dethroned. It’s at that time they’ll have determined, whatever the manner by which they have been dethroned, that dented delight is simply too painful a sense to not a minimum of attempt to regain all they’ve misplaced. It’s at that time a rematch clause is activated and a rematch, whether or not it’s required or not, takes place.
This, on the face of it, would seem the inspiration for lightweights Devin Haney and George Kambosos renewing acquaintances this Sunday (October 16) in Melbourne, Australia, simply 4 months after their first encounter. For it may be for no different cause. Their first battle, in spite of everything, was neither shut nor significantly thrilling and, furthermore, no one who watched the primary battle could have been calling to see a repeat of it anytime quickly.
It’s merely due to a contractual obligation, subsequently, that Kambosos, the previous light-weight champion whose reign was temporary, is granted a second go at beating Haney, 28-0 (15), this weekend in his dwelling nation. For him, and solely him, the battle makes full sense and is one he should take, if simply to revive his delight. It’s also a battle he could have by now satisfied himself he can win, regardless of his incapacity to do a lot with Haney first time round, and one he has advised himself he wants with the intention to proper all of the issues he obtained incorrect again in June.
That’s simply the mindset of a fighter, in fact, and Kambosos, 20-1 (10), is definitely a kind of. He speaks like a fighter, he strikes like a fighter, and he behaves a fighter. Certainly, many argued earlier than his June battle with Haney that Kambosos’ incapacity to stay calm and indifferent within the warmth of battle – that’s, his incapacity to cease functioning and pondering like a fighter – would in the end result in his downfall towards the extra naturally gifted and composed American. It confirmed all through, too, with Kambosos wound up and overly emotional heading into the battle after which, in the course of the battle, crippled by the sort of nervousness and desperation felt solely by these making an attempt too exhausting in entrance of their very own followers.
Haney, in distinction, couldn’t have reduce a cooler determine. Not as soon as overwhelmed, not by the Australian crowd nor Kambosos huffing and puffing, he remained settled and clean always and, whereas maybe not probably the most thrilling battle of 2022, the exhibition he placed on behind the jab was probably the greatest any boxer has produced this calendar 12 months. The truth is, one might argue the battle was gained on that punch alone, the necessity for others lowered each by its high quality and the area it granted Haney to maneuver. Moreover, so amped up was his opponent, and so simple was his method, all it took was a single, double or triple serving to of this jab to discourage him, not not like the stabbing of a matador’s sword within the presence of a bull.
The query now, as we put together for the rematch, is that this: to what extent was Kambosos’ battle because of his personal limitations as a fighter and to what extent was it because of him merely adopting the incorrect method? If Haney’s jabbing clinic uncovered his limitations, there may be arguably no hope for Kambosos, regardless of how loudly the house followers cheer and the way succesful he’s of motivating himself. Nonetheless, if Kambosos naively believed the method he took to beating Teofimo Lopez in 2021 could be simply as efficient towards a totally completely different fighter (each bodily and psychologically), there may be perhaps room for optimism, and for change, and for a unique Kambosos in battle two.
Solely he’ll know the reply to that query. He’ll, as normal, speak an important battle within the days main as much as it and he’ll, on battle evening, resemble the determine of a warrior out for justice; somebody who this time is aware of all of the solutions. But in the long run, when it comes right down to it, when the speaking stops and all we’ve to go on is factual proof, it’s the left jab and composure of Devin Haney that can doubtless as soon as once more converse louder than something his keen however restricted Australian opponent can muster over the course of 12 rounds.
On the Melbourne undercard there are appearances for the Maloney twins, Jason and Andrew, each of whom deal with vastly skilled opponents.
For Jason, a bantamweight with a 24-2 (19) professional report, meaning a battle towards Thailand’s Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai, a professional since 2009 whose report stands at 56-1-1 (46). It’s essential to notice that these 58 bouts all befell in Thailand, in fact, the place the competitors isn’t at all times the strongest, and in addition that Sor Rungvisai is now 31, so might have seen higher days.
Maloney, too, is 31, although one imagines hasn’t obtained the identical variety of miles on the clock. He has gained three in a row since being stopped by Naoya Inoue in 2020 and needs to be favoured to make that 4 this weekend.
His brother Andrew, in the meantime, a flyweight, fights Norbelto Jimenez, a 12-year professional from the Dominican Republic whose final loss got here towards Britain’s Khalid Yafai in 2019. Additionally on a run of three straight wins, Maloney, 24-2 (16), ought to have an excessive amount of for Jimenez, 31-9-6 (16), and will even attempt to pressure a stoppage, which might, ought to he obtain it, be his third on the trot.
