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Kambosos Jr: "Team Lopez Has Nervous Energy"
George Kambosos Jr. believes yesterday’s fracas between
Teofimo Lopez’s father and his father shows the champion’s
team is full of ‘nervous energy’ ahead of their clash for
Lopez’s IBF, WBO, WBA, WBC Franchise & Ring Magazine World
Lightweight titles, at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square
Garden in New York, live worldwide on DAZN.
Kambosos Jr. (19-0 10 KOs) and Lopez (16-0 12 KOs) have been
itching to get in the ring and end the long-running saga
over their clash, which has been cancelled twice since being
called with the Australian landing the IBF mandatory spot
with victory in London over Lee Selby in October 2020.
Challenger and champion attended the media workout in New
York yesterday, and as their paths crossed in the new Church
Street Boxing Gym location near MSG, the teams clashed as
the tensions rose between the camps.
Kambosos Jr. and Lopez were bystanders as the teams clashed,
and the 28 year old is all business as he looks to rip the
titles from ‘The Takeover’ in Lopez’s backyard.
“He’s got a lot of nervous energy and fear,” said Kambosos
Jr. “His Dad got put in his place, he knows we don’t play
around, we’re here ready to fight, ready for war, and he
tucked his tail between his legs and that’s what’s going to
happen on Saturday night.
“If they want to get it on my Dad is here too. We all saw
it, what can you do? He was lucky that my Dad didn’t really
unleash, or he would have not been in his corner on
Saturday. If Eddie Hearn and Matchroom pay enough for the
old fellas to go at it, maybe we’ll see it!
“This isn’t personal for me. Whatever delusional story he
has in his head when he wasn’t even there on June 19,
they’re just lying to him and telling him what he wants to
hear. I am focused, even with what happened with our Dads,
it’s forgotten, there’s no emotion for me, I am here to do a
job.
“He’s coming to KO me early? No problem. That’s what I want
to do. Victory by any means though, it would mean the world,
all the sacrifice and hard work I’ve had to make, that’s
what will make this special. It’s for my kids and the people
around me, the belts are for them.
“I don’t think about what’s next. Ask Lopez, he thinks one
million steps ahead. I’m focused only on him. We’ll see if
Josh Taylor gives him a fight without him having any belts
and coming off a loss to the Aussie.
“People say it’s been a long camp, but I am always in the
gym, always training and preparing. I live in the gym, and I
don’t take a day off, so this has just been like every day,
I stay focused and retain the tunnel vision. When you are
fighting for all the marbles, are you going to take your
foot off the pedal? No. I’ve been very patient and we’re
here now.
“I’ve got a very smart team and I am very smart at what I
do. It’s not my first rodeo, I’ve been in the big fights,
I’ve earned this the hard way. But we’re ready, and we’re
clever, and the preparation has been great; there’s no burn
out or weight issues, nothing, no emotion, just coming here
to win the fight and be a real champion.”
Kambosos and Lopez clash on a huge night of action in New
York, with chief support provided by the battle for the
vacant IBF World Super-Featherweight title between Azinga
Fuzile (15-1 9 KOs) and Kenichi Ogawa (25-1-1 28 KOs).
Raymond Ford (9-0-1 5 KOs) clashes with Felix Caraballo
(13-3-2 9 KOs) over ten rounds, Reshat Mati (11-0 7 KOs)
fights on home turf against Nicholas Pablo Demario (15-5-3 9
KOs) over eight rounds, Chinese Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang
(22-0-1 17 KOs) takes on Craig Lewis (14-4-1 8 KOs) over
eight rounds, Ramla Ali (3-0) makes it back to back fights
in America in a six rounder against Isela Vera (1-0) and
there’s a second female fight on the card with New York’s
own Christina Cruz (1-0) meets Maryguenn Vellinga (3-1-2 2
KOs) over four rounds.
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