George Kambosos Jr

Early Life and Amateur Career

 

George Kambosos Jr., born on June 14, 1993, in Sydney, Australia, comes from a background richly infused with Greek heritage, which has deeply influenced his fighting spirit and determination. From a young age, Kambosos was drawn to combat sports, initially participating in various martial arts before focusing on boxing at the age of 11. His decision to concentrate on boxing set the stage for a promising amateur career.

 

Kambosos quickly demonstrated his prowess in the ring, compiling an impressive amateur record. He amassed a total of 85 wins in his amateur career, showing early signs of his potential to excel in the professional ranks. During his time as an amateur, he won multiple state and national titles, establishing himself as one of Australia’s top prospects. Kambosos was known for his aggressive style and fast pace, which often overwhelmed his opponents.

 

One of the pinnacle achievements of Kambosos’s amateur career was representing Australia in various international competitions, which helped him gain valuable experience against diverse fighting styles. Although he narrowly missed qualifying for the 2012 Olympics, this setback did little to deter his ambition.

 

Professional Career

 

George Kambosos Jr. began his professional boxing journey in May 2013 at the age of 19, securing a second-round technical knockout victory against Filipino boxer Jayson Mac Gura. His career progressed steadily, and in December 2016, he captured the WBA Oceania title by defeating the then world number nine, Brandon Ogilvie. Kambosos continued his winning streak into May 2017, claiming a unanimous decision victory over Qamil Balla in a ten-round bout. His impressive run continued with a knockout victory over Krai Setthaphon in October 2017, earning him both the WBA Oceania and IBF Pan Pacific titles in the lightweight division.

 

In the midst of his rising career, Kambosos was selected as the main sparring partner for boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in June 2017, ahead of Pacquiao’s bout with Jeff Horn, a role he maintained for subsequent fights. This association significantly raised his profile and experience. In April 2018, he signed a promotional deal with DiBella Entertainment, further bolstering his professional standing. Kambosos made his U.S. debut in May 2018, swiftly knocking out Jose Forero in under two minutes. His performance on American soil continued to impress, as he defeated Rey Perez by unanimous decision in January 2019 in Las Vegas. Kambosos returned to his ancestral home of Greece in June 2019, where he knocked out Richard Pena in the sixth round at the packed Galatsi Olympic Hall in Athens.

 

His career trajectory continued upwards as he faced and defeated former IBF lightweight champion Mickey Bey by split decision in December 2019. The victory over Bey was followed by another significant win against former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby in October 2020, making Kambosos the mandatory challenger for the IBF lightweight title. Kambosos’s climb reached a new peak when he challenged Teófimo López for the unified lightweight championship. After multiple postponements and venue changes, Kambosos won the fight by split decision in November 2021, claiming the unified lightweight world champion title. However, his reign faced challenges, including a controversial defeat to Devin Haney in June 2022, which was followed by a rematch in October where Kambosos again faced defeat.

 

Continuing to compete at the highest levels, Kambosos faced Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2024 for the vacant IBF lightweight title in Perth, Western Australia. Despite a valiant effort, he was defeated by TKO in the 11th round, marking another pivotal moment in his career.