To be nice you need to chase greatness. To be one of the best, you need to need it so badly that you’re prepared to do something you possibly can to be one of the best. It is advisable to imagine. It is advisable to make sacrifices and it’s essential to dwell with the mentality that nothing will cease you.
Nothing will ever come straightforward and it’s essential to go to hell and again to win and obtain greatness.
George Kambosos Jnr (21 fights (10 Kos) 2 losses) debuted within the sport of boxing in 2013, after boxing in 100 beginner bouts, preventing, coaching, and dealing in a automobile salesman’s yard to pay the payments.
On the time, the game of boxing in Australia was sporadic, with little media protection, and even fewer massive purses for his or her champions. World beaters like Sam Soliman, Sakio Bika, Michael Katsidis, Vic Darchinyan, Daniel Geale, and Anthony Mundine have been both fascinated about retiring, actively preventing, or chasing their subsequent payday, which often meant touring to oversea lands.
Jim Kambosos was good sufficient to appreciate this when he put the plan in place and put the query to his son, George. “I requested him how badly he needed it, how badly he needed to be a world champion. I requested him if he was prepared to sacrifice the whole lot to turn into world champion, and George didn’t hesitate. We had some cash, however not a lot.”
After 11 fights within the execs, the daddy and son staff packed their luggage and left Sydney, and headed off to the Philippines to coach in Manila, with the legendary, multi-weight world champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Kambosos would accompany Pacquiao on his hellacious roadwork runs across the hills of Common Santos and thru the years they spent collectively in coaching camps, Kambosos would enter into his personal ‘Trial by Fireplace’ enduring, studying and absorbing the whole lot he might from the person referred to as ‘Pac-Man’
Vasiliy Lomachenko (20 fights 17 wins (11 Kos) 3 losses) debuted into the paid ranks quickly after a protracted grueling, however very good beginner profession, profitable gold medals on the earth championships and Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Educated by his father, Anatoly, however solely after agreeing to be taught to maneuver, to stretch, to discover a rhythm in Ukrainian dancing, and gymnastics, Lomachenko initially needed to play ice hockey however he settled on boxing. After 397 (1 loss) bouts, Lomachenko turned skilled in 2013.
Often called ‘Hello Tech’ or ‘The Matrix’, the Ukrainian southpaw wasted no time in difficult for a world title, albeit shedding his second battle towards the powerful and skilled Mexican fighter, Orlando Salido by a break up determination in San Antonio, Texas. Salido had didn’t make the burden and was 21 kilos over, however the battle went forward regardless. Lomachenko took the defeat, hoping to get revenge in a rematch that might elude him the remainder of his profession.
In his subsequent battle, he would make historical past by preventing and beating the extremely gifted Gary Russell Jnr on factors, for the WBO featherweight world title and in doing so Lomachenko would equal Saensak Muangsurin’s world report of profitable a world title after solely 3 skilled fights.
As Lomachenko was on his path to greatness, Kambosos was on a highway that solely he might stroll, preventing, struggling, coaching, sparring 250 rounds with Pacquiao, whereas ready for his probability, and in his thoughts, that was all he wanted.
With powerful factors wins towards the Filipino Ray Perez in Vegas in January 2019, Mickey Bey in New York in December 2019, Lee Selby in London in October 2020, Kambosos was a highway warrior, a throwback, a contender and a handful for anybody he confronted.
It was now 2020. Lomachenko had been very busy, leaping up in weight, profitable the WBO junior light-weight world title, spectacularly beating Roman Martinez, to then go on to defeat the fearsome, massive punching Nicholas Walters and the Olympic gold medalist and world champion, Guillermo Rigondeaux, by making them give up on their stools. He then challenged the always-ready, skilled fighter, Jorge Linares in New York for the WBA, and Ring journal belts in one more weight class to beat. There can be no give up in Linares, pulling down Lomachenko within the sixth spherical, which noticed ‘the Matrix’ susceptible for the primary time, proving he was human in spite of everything.
Linares couldn’t exploit the weak point, and he let Lomachenko again into the battle, and the Ukrainian champion saved coming ahead, carrying Linares down, lastly stopping him with a giant physique shot straight to the liver within the tenth spherical to seize the light-weight crown and turn into a three-weight world champion after solely 12 fights. After two extra profitable defenses towards Anthony Crolla and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, Luke Campbell, it was introduced Lomachenko can be dealing with the harmful speedster, and IBF champion Teofimo Lopez in New York. Covid had hit and the 2 champions would meet heart ring in Las Vegas with no dwell viewers.
There was additionally discuss of Lopez dealing with Kambosos nevertheless it by no means eventuated and the Australian must wait and hope to get a crack on the winner.
Within the battle, Lopez used his velocity and motion, outboxing Lomachenko with onerous jabs and lightning-fast mixtures, setting the tempo by going to the physique and Lomachenko appeared confused and it was an absence lustre efficiency, with Lopez profitable by a unanimous determination.
After the battle, questions have been requested. Unfair questions have been requested by the media, and from people who most probably had by no means put a glove on or stepped into a hoop. Lomachenko had achieved greatness, and he had been preventing for years, arguably, possibly he had too many beginner fights, and possibly he ought to have turned skilled earlier. Was he burned out? Lomachenko weathered the questions and never lengthy after the battle, he had shoulder surgical procedure.
Lopez was on prime of the world. He was the unified champion. He had beat the person, the legend, and he beat a future Corridor of Famer and he seemed good doing it.
Subsequent up was Kambosos and after delay after delay, it was introduced that Kambosos would get his probability and he can be preventing Lopez in New York in November 2021.
Kambosos was a 13-1 underdog going into the battle. After his efficiency towards Lomachenko, it was a straightforward evaluation for the Las Vegas bookmakers. Nobody gave Kambosos a prayer. Kambosos and his father didn’t want or need one. All they needed was the prospect.
Within the battle, Kambosos got here out aggressively, preventing fireplace with fireplace, and counterpunching Lopez attempting to stamp his authority, by no means yielding, and by no means giving Lopez the prospect to muster up any confidence or get into any form of his New York groove.
Kambosos fought the battle of his life, taking massive proper fingers from Lopez, and coming again together with his personal proper hand pulling down the champion within the 1st spherical and being put down by a tough proper hand within the tenth spherical to Raleigh robust with the idea within realizing his dream of changing into the champion of the world. Going into the final two rounds, it was an in depth battle and it was a case of who needed to win badly sufficient it was Kambosos, who fought with coronary heart and soul to win by a break up determination to turn into the unified light-weight champion of the world. All of the delays main as much as the battle, the household circumstances whereas in camp, the emotional drama and the years of struggling, all result in this victory.
One month later in December 2021, after Lopez misplaced his titles and 14 months since Lomachenko misplaced to Lopez, the Ukrainian returned to Madison Sq. Backyard to face the hard-as-nails boxer from Ghana, Richard Commey, profitable by a large factors determination and extra importantly the win put him again into the combo for extra world titles with massive fights towards Devin Haney and George Kambosos Jnr.
On the twenty fourth of February, 2022, it was reported that Russia had engaged in an all-out invasion of neighboring Ukraine which despatched shockwaves around the globe. Lomachenko commented that boxing was on maintain for him and that he can be becoming a member of his countrymen, defending his land and preventing for his or her lives and for freedom.
On the opposite facet of the world, Group Kambosos introduced that they might be dealing with Devin Haney (28-0) in Melbourne in June for the undisputed light-weight championship of the world. Kambosos might have fought anybody, defended his titles, and loved each minute as champion of the world. As an alternative, he chased greatness, preventing one of many pound-for-pound, technically gifted boxers in Haney.
Once more Kambosos was the underdog by many, and within the battle, Haney proved to be too expert he confirmed an excellent jab, and counter-punching accuracy, beating Kambosos to the punch, and profitable by a unanimous determination on the ‘ Marvel’ stadium.
Lomachenko got here again to boxing in October 2022 and his opponent was his former sparring associate, Jermaine Ortiz. The boxer identified for his excessive boxing IQ and sophistication was undefeated in 17 fights and within the battle, the fighter from Massachusetts fought nicely and gave Lomachenko a really aggressive battle, with the Ukrainian profitable on factors.
That very same month, Haney returned to Australia to defend his undisputed titles in a rematch and beat Kambosos convincingly to retain his standing because the primary light-weight on the earth.
Going into 2023, there was discuss of Haney transferring up in weight to battle at tremendous light-weight then it was introduced that Lomachenko can be difficult Haney and face him in a legacy battle for each boxers. What did Lomachenko have left? There have been questions doubting his means, his want, his latest efficiency, and with Haney having peak, velocity, age, and likewise being injury-free, the whole lot was stacked towards him, making it the unimaginable dream for Lomachenko.
For me, I used to be stunned how a lot the boxing media performed an element in portray the image of Lomachenko’s demise as a shot fighter. My ideas have been that Lomachenko, like all of the greats within the historical past of the game, might field good from all angles and steal rounds to beat Haney on factors.
Within the battle, Lomachenko did simply that, outboxing and outthinking Haney in a battle that did go the 12 rounds. The judges scored the battle to Haney 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. Haney focused the physique of ‘the Matrix’ as it appears that evidently might have been some weak point there, whereas Lomachenko centered on his southpaw jab and straight left hand, irritating and countering the larger youthful Haney in an amazing battle of types from two good champions.
As Kambosos watched from ringside, he as soon as once more had his eye on the prize, however first, he needed to deal with enterprise towards the teak powerful English boxer, and southpaw, Maxi Hughes ( 26-5-2 ) . The battle was to be contested for the IBO light-weight world title and each fighters would wish to journey to Oklahoma.
Whereas Kambosos was getting back from his losses to Haney, Hughes was coming into the battle, feeling assured as he was on a seven-fight profitable streak so the previous unified champion would must be on the prime of his recreation.
Within the battle, Kambosos timing appeared off, and it’s truthful to say that Hughes fought the battle of his profession that made for an in depth fought battle that went to the scorecards, with Kambosos profitable a majority determination to win and turn into a world champion as soon as once more.
With Haney transferring as much as battle the WBC tremendous light-weight champion, Regis Prograis, this opened the door within the light-weight division and Lomachenko and Kambosos have stepped by to face one another.
Two fearless proud warriors. Brawler v boxer, Champion v champion chasing greatness but in addition preventing for survival, in what might be one another’s final battle.
Can Lomachenko come again once more with the starvation, the desire to win and can he have yet another battle in him to beat Kambosos in his homeland to turn into a world champion as soon as extra. Can he come again after being so agonizingly near beating Haney, together with his wounds healed, to attempt once more and safe his place as one of many greats within the sport of boxing .
Will Kambosos has the engine, the ability, and the boxing IQ, and might he stand up once more to battle and beat the Ukrainian matrix.
Lomachenko v Kambosos Jr. in Perth, Australia can be an amazing conflict of types, with Kambosos being taller, and likewise having the benefit in attain, and each fighters coming ahead, like two gladiators making for an thrilling battle, with every of them enduring, and going by hell however for one, hell ain’t a nasty place to be.
Gary Todd has been concerned in all features within the sport of boxing for 30 years. He’s an acclaimed worldwide writer together with his books on boxing. Take a look at his newest e book, ‘Annie’s Boy’
Garytodd.org
