Haney goes over old ground with Kambosos, winning widely once more

It was a rematch ordered by a contract slightly than public demand, however Devin Haney confirmed his superiority over George Kambosos second time round, writes Sean Nam

It was deja vu once more.

In one of many extra blatantly redundant rematches in current reminiscence, Devin Haney vivisected George Kambosos Jnr. over 12 rounds, replicating his effort 4 months earlier to stay the light-weight division’s undisputed champion.

Kambosos, who, in an obvious try to show over a brand new leaf, ditched each his longtime coach and supervisor going into the battle, promised to flash a much more aggressive model. And it appeared, initially, he was on monitor to take action, after 29-year-old landed a booming overhand proper within the opening spherical that caught the 23-year-old’s consideration. However Haney — larger, longer, faster — wouldn’t take in too many punches like that over the course of their battle. Haney shortly took management of the the tempo and rhythm, preserving the Aussie at bay with the jab and meting out punishment with the fitting hand. By the top, Kambosos was carrying a ghastly pink masks.

Judges Leszek Jankowiak, Craig Megcalfe, and Manuel Oliver Palomo believed they noticed an much more dominant battle from the scientific Las Vegan denizen than within the first battle, handing over scorecards that learn 119-109, 118-110, and 118-110, respectively. (Scorecards for the primary battle favored Haney by a barely smaller margin: Two judges had it 116-112, whereas the opposite had it 118-110).

A return bout nobody had been calling for, Haney-Kambosos II was primarily a pre-determined affair due to the gulf in expertise between the 2 fighters. Haney, after all, had no selection however to take part within the matter, since Kambosos had a contractual prerogative, which he instantly invoked after the loss in the summertime. The rematch clause — that favourite cudgel amongst boxing promoters to guard their investments — was a part of a litany of enterprise phrases that Haney needed to conform to earlier this 12 months with a view to get the prospect to swap punches with Kambosos, who on the time held three of the light-weight belts.

If Haney had inoculated Kambosos with the jab within the first battle, his key weapon for the second was the fitting cross. Haney repeatedly landed his again hand, till Kambosos was drenched in blood by the top of the battle.

“I went in there I knew he was on the lookout for the jab however I wished to point out another instruments within the arsenal,” Haney mentioned within the postfight interview. “My dad wished me to throw the hook extra however I felt like the fitting hand is what gained me the battle tonight.”

The fitting hand opened up for Haney as a result of Kambosos made a key miscalculation in his technique: by making an attempt to modify stances so steadily — born, little question, out of a misguided understanding of what it means to be “slick” — Haney had loads of openings to fling his sharp cross.

“When he first got here out, I didn’t anticipate him to be switching,” Haney mentioned. However I caught on to his timing and his angles, and I began to choose my photographs extra.

“In opposition to a southpaw, the fitting hand is at all times on the cash. That’s what occurred.”

For all the offensive novelties he introduced into the ring, Kambosos appeared contemporary out of solutions by the point the center rounds rolled round. Within the sixth spherical, Haney had Kambosos bleeding from his left eye. And, within the seventh, Haney was the one who was starting to do the stalking.

After a lull, the battle took an fascinating flip late within the battle. In a uncommon sequence, the ninth spherical noticed each fighters commerce punches in the course of the ring. Haney had the ultimate phrase, nonetheless, connecting with a mixture late that appeared to harm Kambosos. Within the subsequent spherical, sensing the Aussie was harm, Haney started swinging for the fences and appeared on the verge of even getting a stoppage.        

Requested if he desires to battle subsequent the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis subsequent, Haney refused to call particular fighters. It has been reported, nonetheless, that High Rank Inc., the promotional firm that backs each Lomachenko and Haney, is trying to stage a battle between their two shoppers someday subsequent 12 months.

“Man, we taking up all comers,” Haney mentioned. “Regardless of who it’s. We wish to battle the perfect fighters on the planet. I consider I’m the perfect fighter on the planet. Whoever it’s subsequent, deliver them on.”

Katsuhiko Nakamura refereed.

On the High Rank/DBE-promoted undercard, Aussie bantamweight contender Jason Moloney fended off a sport Nawaphon Kaikanha of Thailand over 12 rounds.

The judges noticed a lopsided battle in favor of Moloney, handing over scores of 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109.

But, Moloney, a former title challenger, bumped into a couple of tough patches towards an opponent who was by no means as soon as really wobbled. Within the tenth spherical, Kaikanha linked with a proper hand that momentarily destabilized Moloney.

Malcolm Bulner refereed.

Junior bantamweight contender Andrew Moloney, the brother of Jason, inched nearer to one more potential title shot with a complete factors win over Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic in a 10-round junior bantamweight bout.

All three judges (97-90, 98-88, 98-89) had it for Moloney.

Moloney scored two knockdowns, one apiece within the first two rounds. Jimenez, who complained to the referee all night time lengthy, was additionally deducted some extent for hitting after referee Ignatius Missailidis issued a cease to the motion.

Cherneka Johnson overcame a ugly reduce above her brow early in her 10-round protection of her junior featherweight title towards former champion Susie Ramadan to win a unanimous resolution.

The scores had been 97-90, 96-92, 96-91, all for Johnson.

By the second spherical, each fighters had been bleeding from the face however it was Johnson who fared the more severe after an inadvertent head conflict created a large gash above her left eye. A hoop physician appeared near stopping the battle however allowed it to proceed.