Champion boxer George Kambosos is vowing to reign for years to come after arriving home to a hero’s reception in Sydney.
More than 200 fans mostly from the Greek community chanted “Georgie, Georgie, Georgie” when Australia’s newly crowned world lightweight champion paraded his IBF, WBO and WBA belts through the Sydney International Airport.
The 28-year-old dedicated his straps to the whole of Australia following his spectacular upset win over previously unbeaten American Teofimo Lopez in New York.
“As much as I had to go do it inside the ropes, my family and my friends and both my countries lifted me, especially in that round 10,” Kambosos said on Thursday.
“It’s a big moment for everyone that’s been around me, a big moment for Australia. This is huge.
“I had to go and really earn it. I had to go to the back yard (of my rivals) multiple times and to go and beat this guy in his prime and in his home town, no Australian fighter’s ever done that before.
“So these belts mean a lot and they mean a lot to the whole of our country.”
Kambosos plans to defend his “jewels” in April or May in front of 80,000 fans in Sydney or Melbourne.
The self-proclaimed “Emperor” is leaning towards a unified mega-fight with WBC champion Devin Haney but isn’t ruling out taking on either of fellow Americans Ryan Garcia or Gervonta Davis or Vasiliy Lomachenko, the Ukrainian considered the premier pound-for-pound boxer in the world before losing his titles to Lopez last year.
So long as his challengers are willing to come to Australia.
“We’re bringing the big fights here now. I deserve it, I’ve earned that,” Kambosos said.
“I haven’t fought here since 2017 so a big fight (is coming) and we’re going to bring that to a massive stadium – 80,000 people.
“Haney, Davis, Lomachenko, Garcia, they’re all going to get it.”
Asked specifically about facing Haney, who retained his WBC belt with a unanimous points victory over JoJo Diaz in Las Vegas on Sunday, Kambosos said: “No problem”.
“I want him to come and he will, so I’ll take everything off him as well.
“These belts aren’t going anywhere. They’re here to stay.”