Fighting Words — George Kambosos’ one big night has lasted for three years

Three years ago, George Kambosos Jnr had the greatest night of his career. He hasn’t had a great night since. 

That hasn’t kept him from continuing to cash in. And that ability to cash in, in turn, has kept opponents coming, and coming long distances at that – flying across the world for one of the rarer boxing scenarios. The reward far outweighing the risk.

Kambosos, of course, doesn’t see it that way, but he’s otherwise still counting on his ability to draw at the box office some three years after his victory in November 2021 over Teofimo Lopez to become the king of the lightweight division — and some three losses (and one debatable win) removed from the throne.

His new promoters are counting on the same thing. Especially with Kambosos moving up into the packed junior-welterweight division.

Kambosos, who has long fought and remains under the DiBella Entertainment banner, in May 2023. That relationship has since concluded following two bouts – the first being that debatable (many would say undeserved) victory over Maxi Hughes in July 2023, the other a loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko in a bout in May for the vacant IBF lightweight belt.

Now Kambosos (21-3, 10 KOs) is under a new arrangement, still featuring DiBella but adding Matchroom Boxing to the fold. And the quotes in a press release from Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn make it clear why the promoter was interested in someone who is 1-3 in his past four outings – someone who some feel could’ve been 0-4.

“I’m delighted to welcome George to the team,” Hearn was quoted as saying. “George’s win over Teofimo ripped up the script and showed that George was a man for the big occasion, and he’s proved to be a massive draw in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind boxing’s rapid rise down under.

“The 140lbs division is littered with big names and great potential clashes, and adding George to that mix only raises the levels – with a potential fight against Liam Paro a real mouthwatering prospect, if Liam can get the win in a great fight with Richardson [Hitchins] on December 7.”

Kambosos hails from Sydney, Australia, and journeyed overseas while working his way from prospect to contender and then from contender to champion. That rise culminated with three straight notable victories, all via split decision – defeating Mickey Bey in New York City in December 2019, Lee Selby in London in October 2020, and Lopez in New York City in November 2021.

Since then, Kambosos has starred back home in three of his four fights. 

An announced attendance of 41,129 came to Marvel Stadium, an Australian rules football stadium in Melbourne, in June 2022 to watch as Kambosos lost in his first defense. Devin Haney won a unanimous decision and the undisputed championship at 135.

Good crowds in smaller arenas came out for Kambosos’ subsequent appearances. The immediate rematch in October 2022 was at the Rod Laver Arena, a tennis and basketball venue in Melbourne with a capacity of 14,000-15,000 people. Kambosos vs Hughes took place in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and then Kambosos vs Lomachenko was held in the Western Australia capital city of Perth at the RAC Arena, with an announced attendance of 14,147.

“My three fights in Australia, I’m proud to have done over 71,000 in attendance,” , which if true would put the Haney rematch in the 15,000 range. “Might have taken [losses], but we fought the best of the best, not cab drivers.”

Therein lies the question. And the perception.

The question is just how good Kambosos can still be given that his lone defeats came against Haney and Lomachenko. 

The perception is that he isn’t good enough, that Kambosos had his Buster Douglas moment against Lopez and has lost his luster since. Kambosos’ naysayers feel that Haney and Lomachenko showed his limitations; that Kambosos couldn’t compete against the top 135-pounders and that he won’t fare any better at 140. The win over Hughes didn’t help Kambosos’ case either.

This signing, then, seems to be a hedging of bets.

Perhaps Matchroom wants to rebuild Kambosos on his own — why not capitalize on a known ticket seller? — before putting him in with another big name. Matchroom could put together a bill with separate bouts featuring Kambosos and other Australian fighters within its promotional ranks, including cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, women’s featherweight titleholder Skye Nicolson and heavyweight prospect Justis Huni. 

Opetaia will defend his title on January 8 near Gold Coast, fighting in Australia for the first time in two-and-a-half years. Huni is scheduled to perform December 11 outside of Brisbane, sharing the card with another Matchroom fighter – a once-beaten light heavyweight named Conor Wallace who is originally from Northern Ireland but lives in Australia.

(DiBella, meanwhile, has some Australian fighters, including women’s bantamweight titleholder Cherneka Johnson and a few heavyweights — Lucas Browne is 45, Joe Goodall isn’t world level, and Faiga Opelu just lost to Goodall.)

When it’s time, be that time sooner or later, Matchroom could pair Kambosos with another junior welterweight in its stable, which includes IBF titleholder Paro, contenders Jack Catterall and Hitchins, and prospects Ernesto Mercado and Dalton Smith. The promoter also has lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson – whom Kambosos has invited for a fight at 140 – and 135lbs prospect Andy Cruz.

If Kambosos is able to score a big win against one of them, Matchroom would benefit. And if Kambosos loses, Hearn would still earn in the process.

The Paro pairing mentioned in Matchroom’s press release would make the most sense, and not just because it would make the most dollars.

Paro is from Brisbane and developed in his home country before stepping up and traveling away for three of his past four appearances. Paro flew to Florida three years ago to win a split decision over the previously undefeated Yomar Alamo. He came to San Francisco one year ago to stop the once-beaten Montana Love. This past June, Paro ventured into potentially hostile territory, ruining Subriel Matias’ homecoming in Puerto Rico by taking Matias’ title via unanimous decision.

Paro will return to Puerto Rico for the Hitchins fight. Hitchins is from New York City, but that undercard otherwise features several prospects from the boxing-proud island.

If Paro wins on December 7, then the timing would be right for him to return to Australia for a victory lap. And if he were to fight and defeat Kambosos, that could, in professional wrestling parlance, give him the rub.

It’s often maddening when promoters keep their fights in-house rather than work with others in order to get the biggest fights made. But it’s also understandable, when you have a commodity, to pass along that inheritance to another member of the family.

So while Kambosos has recently gone back and forth with Lopez on social media, don’t expect that rematch to be made just yet. Lopez has remained inconsistent since his loss to Kambosos but is otherwise the lineal champion and WBO titleholder at 140 by virtue of his victory in June 2023 over Josh Taylor.

Lopez needs an opponent who will help him make money. Even with so many other names at junior welterweight, Kambosos would also fit the billing. Kambosos wants to continue fighting for legacy, and the possibility of a second win over Lopez, and a second lineal championship, is one such opportunity.

Kambosos, to his credit, hasn’t shied away from challenges, even if he hasn’t succeeded against most of them. He could still make a comfortable living fighting at home against lesser opponents. As we’ve seen in places throughout the world, boxing fans will support local favorites no matter who they face.

That’s not what Kambosos wants to do. Not yet, at least. The route taken by his countrymen Jeff Horn, Anthony Mundine and Michael Zerafa in their final years can always come later. Whether that comes sooner depends on what Kambosos and Matchroom decide to do.

Perhaps we will see Kambosos return against a lower-tier foe in January as part of the Opetaia headliner. If Paro gets through Hitchins next week, we could either see Paro vs Kambosos to follow, or for them to share separate fights in a doubleheader, setting an even grander stage for their eventual collision.

That’s all speculation, of course. This much is certain: Kambosos was at his best three years ago. He’s never been better, and that’s not a compliment. Matching him from here might be like walking a tightrope. Kambosos has cashed in ever since the Lopez fight. Now they have to figure out the best way to cash out before he crashes out.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter and . He is the co-host of the . David’s book, “,” is available on Amazon.