Lou DiBella believes a rematch between Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. is imminent.
On Saturday night, Kambosos will take on Maxi Hughes of England in the opening bout of a new multi-bout co-promotional arrangement with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. By defeating previously unbeaten Scottish southpaw Josh Taylor to capture the WBO junior welterweight title, Lopez, who has long been promoted by Top Rank, has bounced back from his unexpected split-decision loss to Kambosos in November 2021.
Australia’s George Kambosos views himself as a current contender at 135 pounds. Longtime Kambosos promoter DiBella still believes that as long as these adversaries continue to triumph, a move up to the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds to face Lopez will eventually occur.
Inevitable at some point
DiBella stated that he believes it is inevitable at some point. “There was a great deal of passion going into that battle, and there was a great deal of passion coming out of that fight. I think that fight is going to happen again in some capacity in the future. That’s something you already know. If Teofimo doesn’t resign two or three more times, it is going to happen.
However, Teofimo Lopez is one of those men who will have a turbulent, exciting, and enjoyable career. And He believes that George and Teofimo will continue to fight. The initial fight was simply too enjoyable to avoid happening again.
In their entertaining title fight at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre in New York 19 months ago, Kambosos (19-1, 13 KOs) knocked Lopez out in the first round. He recovered from a knockdown in the 10th round to win their tightly contested 12-round, 135-pound championship fight on two scorecards (115-112, 115-111, 113-114).
DiBella remarked that “it was a fight that defined George.” “And on both sides, a lot of venomous remarks were exchanged. I believe that eventually there will be a rematch. But George doesn’t mind that he’s currently 35 years old. He is too heavy. Watch what occurs in this situation. After the two battles with Haney, Maxi Hughes was purposefully put in a scenario of high danger and big reward.
In 2022, Sydney’s Kambosos (20-2, 10 KOs) suffered consecutive 12-round unanimous decisions losses to lightweight champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KOs). His 12-round match against Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs) will compete for Hughes’ lightweight IBO title and will determine who the IBF’s second-best fighter at 135 pounds is.
George Kamosos may face Gustavo Lemos
Kambosos would probably face Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos (28-0, 18 KOs), the IBF’s top contender, for an unclaimed IBF title if he defeats Hughes and Haney gives up his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO crowns to compete in the 140-pound category.
“I think if George wins this fight in good style he’s right back in there in the top echelon of making a big fight in boxing,” stated DiBella. There are many potential orientations at 135 and 140, including Teofimo Lopez. In addition, Devin Haney is in a position where he must make a choice that might cause certain things to change. Because there are so many significant fights in that universe and a variety of outcomes are possible, we decided to work with Top Rank.
Hughes has won seven consecutive after losing to British southpaw Liam Walsh (23-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-round majority decision in London in November 2019. During his winning streak, the unheralded Hughes has defeated southpaws from Ireland and England, Kid Galahad (28-3, 17 KOs) and Jono Carroll (24-2-1, 7 KOs) respectively.
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In years, DiBella remarked, “I haven’t seen George this calm, collected, and prepared for a fight.” “However, he has dropped two straight contests and is facing a very challenging opponent. Maxi Hughes is an excellent boxer. Look at the opponents he defeated and those he wasn’t meant to defeat. He is a capable fighter. George is making a gutsy rebound fight.
On Saturday night at 10 p.m. EDT from FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma, ESPN will broadcast Kambosos-Hughes as the main event of a two-fight package. A rising lightweight contender from Norfolk, Virginia named Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KOs) will take on Belgium’s Francesco Patera (28-3, 10 KOs) in the 10-round opening bout of ESPN’s doubleheader.
