Kambosos ready to lead Aussie world title charge

He’s done over 250 rounds with Manny Pacquaio and fought in some of the biggest arenas in boxing, now ‘Ferocious’ George Kambosos is ready for Australia to take notice.

George Kambosos goes into the famed Madison Square Garden on Sunday, knowing that his world title dreams and a place in the top tier of professional boxing lay in wait.

Promoted by the legendary Lou DiBella andbeing the main training partner to boxing legend Manny Pacquaio, Kambosos is primed for the big stage.

But first he must find a way past former IBF world champion Mickey Bey (23-2).

Despite the fact a world title shot is seemingly lying at the Australian’s doorstep, the number three ranked Kambosos had no hesitation in agreeing the fight the dangerous American.

“Bey has been in some really big fights and he’s been at the top of boxing, where I’m going,” Kambosos said.

“That’s why we picked him. We wanted a name like this. This is his make or break fight, as it is mine. This is my acid test.

“Whatever he brings to the table, we’re ready for. This is my American coming out party, and this will be his retirement party.

“There is a lot on the line.”

While he is not prepared to look past Bey, an impressive display from the Australian in New York, could just land him the opportunity of a lifetime.

Top Rank kingpin Bob Arum has discussed bringing boxing superstar Vasily Lomachenko out to Australia, and handing Kambosos his mega fight.

Lomachenko will be in attendance on Sunday, and Kambosos knows he must bring the fireworks to grab the Ukrainian’s attention.

“Bob Arum is Lomachenko’s promotor and he is the promotor of Sunday’s fight, so it all hinges on the statement we make,” Kambosos explained.

“We’re on this card for a reason. Everything has been put here to create even more interest and those opportunities could be there, if we do the business against Bey and look great.

“I’m ready to bring real boxing back to Australia. They know I’m a real fighter, a real contender.”

Current IBF lightweight champion Richard Commey will defend his title against Teofimo Lopez on the same card as Kambosos.

If Lopez was to dethrone Commey, number three ranked Kambosos will likely be lined up as the next challenger. 

“If Commey is to win, I’ll probably go to Lomanchenko, but if Commey is to lose, there’s a big chance me and Lopez get it on next,” Kambosos said.

“There’s a big chance Bob moves his fighters around, he either says he’s going to take Lomachenko to Australia or I fight Lopez. Either way, a world title will be next.”

A new generation of Australian fighters have come to the forefront in recent months, with Tim Tszyu, the Moloney brothers and Michael Zerafa grabbing the countries attention.

But Kambosos says he will be the one to lead boxing forward in Australia.

“I’m the leader of the pack,” Kambosos said.

“Out of all those guys, I’m here fighting at Madison Square Garden, against a former world champion. They are in Australia, fighting in front of 2000-3000 people.

“Australian boxing is in a really good position. I’m not going to sit and knock different fighters and say they’re doing something wrong.But I’m happy to be the leader of the pack.

“I’m the guy over here and those back home need to look at the Kambosos blueprint.

“I’m a 26-year-old, and ranked number three in the world. I’m ready to bring the entertainment back to Australian boxing.

“We have never had the easy road, and I’ve never wanted the easy road. 

“I’m a fight away from cracking the big, big time and world title fights.”

ADAM SANTAROSSA

Mayweather fights for his place in history

* MAYWEATHER/PACQUIAO: FIGHT OF THE CENTURY - PREVIEW

Floyd Mayweather says he's the best ever. He’s even got the clothing line to prove it.

Some consider such a claim to be trademark Mayweather brashness, another act in ‘Being the Bad Guy 101’ or an attempt to generate publicity and subsequently ticket sales and pay-per-view buys.

Many are content to waive such claims away, but honestly, why isn't he at least in the conversation.

Mayweather is 47-0, his record reads like a Hall of Fame class – Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Diego Corrales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Arturo Gatti, Saul Alvarez and Zab Judah have all been vanquished.

Almost all were comprehensive, with only De La Hoya giving him a significant test.

It is a record matched only by Rocky Marciano, who went 49-0 as a heavyweight.

Now, records aren’t everything, and you can punch holes in the records of many big names, but why should Mayweather not be considered amongst the greats, such as Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Marciano and Muhammad Ali?

The reason people don’t consider him in that calibre is because simply, he's disliked.

He’s considered too flashy, an egomaniac, only in it for the money.

They are just a few of the reasons. Not to mention his domestic violence charges and other misconduct.

This week he came out claiming he was better than Muhammad Ali and people scoffed - How are you better than our champion?

But you have to remember there was a time when Muhammad Ali was public enemy number one, in the same way Mayweather is today.

Many people hated him simply because of his background. Some labelled him ‘champ’ and many more labelled him by the colour of his skin.

Others called him a coward and a draft dodger, for being a conscientious objector when conscripted to fight for the United States in the Vietnam War.

Some simply hated him because he was a Muslim or because he walked to the beat of his own drum.

But with the grace of time his public image has softened. 

These days he is loved by all. The days of public hatred are long gone and he is simply judged on his legacy.

That's where Mayweather is lacking.

Ali is most remembered for his epics with George Foreman and Joe Frazier.

‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ and ‘Thriller in Manilla’ is gospel in the sport.

They are forever intertwined with boxing, and for many it’s their first taste of the sweet science.

At this moment Mayweather doesn't have a fight of such magnitude on his record.

Yes, he's fought future hall of famers, but up until now there's been an asterix next to his name.

He's beaten them all, but there's one name left to beat.

To be truly considered a great he needs to beat the other man with any real claims, Manny Pacquiao, the only man to ever win a world title in eight different weight divisions.

The fight may be long overdue, but I’m glad it’s happening, the final box on each mans application to the legendary tier of boxing will be complete.

I’d argue there is greatness in seeking greatness. Sometimes only the legend is willing to lay it all on the line to prove he is the better man.

It is important to consider too, that as much as you are judged on what you have done, you'll also be judged on what happens after you're gone.

Ali is remembered for his charisma, more so now in a time when the Heavyweight division is crying out for some. 

The swiftness of his movements around the boxing ring, the footwork, the showmanship, all remembered now more fondly in a time of robotic beasts.

Will anyone come and do what Mayweather has done in this modern era of the sport?

Only time will tell.

Watching Mayweather in the lead up to this fight you can see he is very different.

He's quiet. He knows the fight will define his career and the legacy he will leave.

Many years down the line, they won’t remember the box office records, the clothing line, the lack of endorsements and public popularity; they’ll judge Mayweather the fighter, the skills, the victories, the performances on those big Vegas night’s when the entire world was watching.

Mayweather has been subdued in the lead up because he can feel the pressure. He has everything to lose. The undefeated record. The crowd as boxing’s pound for pound king.

Comparing fighters across eras is a hard thing to do. There are new weight classes, time limits, titles, purses, rules and hundreds of years of evolution.

But when judging the greats there is always that one fight for which they’ll forever be remembered. When they took on the best and beat them.

Now it is Mayweather’s turn.

When history looks back on the career of Floyd Mayweather Jr, who knows if he’ll ever one day be considered the greatest, but a win on Sunday may just put him in the conversation.

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In the last chance saloon, Billy Dib hopes to rise again

Copyright: Lonsdale London

* MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO PREVIEW/ANALYSIS

Billy 'The Kid’ Dib may have just arrived at the last chance saloon.

If he fails in his opportunity at a world title on Friday night, who knows if he'll get another.

That may make him a desperate man, but he shouldn't be.

Desperation is what has cost him in the past.

Dib has a huge heart and that sometimes is his problem. He uses it more than his head on occasion.

At the end of the day it isn't the toughest fighter who reins supreme, it's often the smartest.

Previously in Dib's opportunities at a world title he has been too desperate to impress.

Many wrote him off after his comprehensive points defeat at the hands of Steven Leuvano in 2008. 

The loss saw him dropped by Golden Boy Promotions and forced back home to Australia and the drawing board.

To his credit, he did the work, made the changes and took the long road back to the top.

The IBF Featherweight World Title signaled his return to the big stage in July 2011.

He was snapped up by SMS Promotions, with Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson calling the shots.

The US market is notoriously tough to break and Billy had been granted a second opportunity at it.

A big world title defence against Evgeny Gradovich, beamed around the globe on ESPN, and Dib wanted to make up for lost time.

He wanted to show he was an action packed fighter made for the USA that would get TV sets and turnstiles spinning. He traded shots with Gradovich willingly, only to lose the title.

He showed us his heart and his underappreciated chin and won admirers, but at the end of the day he lost the fight and his title, because he went away from his strengths.

Dib’s best asset is his speed, silky boxing skills and his ringmanship. He used angles well and is hard to hit, yet in the Gradovich fights he was more focused on putting on a show by trading bombs.

Hearing Dib speak in the lead up to this fight it's good to hear he's learnt those lessons. He’s returned home, worked on his skills and waited for the next opportunity at redemption.

It's a credit to his team for getting this fight as I think it's a very winnable one.

That's not to say it will be easy.

Takashi Miura has lost just once in six years, twice in his entire career.

He’s heavy handed and can finish a fight within the distance, which he’s managed in over 65% of his fights.

Miura is also quite good technically, and he’s a southpaw, making him an awkward opponent for Dib.

The champion has just fought once outside Japan in his career, highlighting his comfort on home soil.

Dib’s shot at the title will be available all around Australia on free-to-air television. It’s an opportunity many fighters will be envious of. It is the first world title fight on Channel 9 in 25 years and harks back to the days of a man close to Dib, Jeff Fenech.

It was Fenech who made himself a household name back in 1985 when we won the IBF World Bantamweight Title against Japanese fighter, Satoshi Shingaki, as an underdog.

Dib has the same opportunity against another Japanese champion on Friday evening in Tokyo.

Dib also has the opportunity to do something Fenech never did, claim the WBC Super Featherweight Title, after Fenech was robbed of the green belt following a controversial draw against Azumah Nelson in 1991.

Dib has the chance to right the wrong and finally bring it back to Australia for his close friend.

Going to Japan and getting a decision will be difficult and Dib will have to be at his best. He will have to dominate the fight and win close to every round. 

He’s the underdog, but some will say it’s been that way his entire career. 

Many write him off, expecting him to fall short. 

But often fighters at the last chance saloon bring their very best, and in the land of the rising sun, Billy Dib may yet rise again.