American Devin Haney unified the lightweight division titles on Sunday in Melbourne by winning by unanimous decision over Australian George Kambosos Jr.
The 23-year-old prodigy, who is nicknamed “The Dream”, benefited from two verdicts of 116-112 and a third of 118-110 in front of a crowd of more than 40,000 people, thus ending up with the WBA belts , WBC, WBO and IBF category.
He is the first boxer to unify the belts at lightweight since Pernell Whitaker in 1992, and the first to do so under the four-belt era, which began in 2004.
The boxer from Las Vegas, Nevada remains undefeated in 28 professional fights, while Kambosos suffered a first setback, in his 21st appearance in the ring.
In his last outing, Kambosos defeated Teofimo Lopez by split decision in a duel presented at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Kambosos fell victim to Haney’s sensational speed, instinct and relentless left-handed straight. Frustrated, the Aussie struggled to land enough big punches.
The American also performed a real defensive tour de force. His skill and his tactical sense prevailed against 41,000 spectators almost all won over to his opponent, in a white-hot Marvel Stadium.
“It’s a dream come true,” Haney said. The American had received a big boost the day before the fight when his father and trainer, Bill, obtained a visa at the last minute after being refused entry to Australia because of an old doping conviction. about thirty years old.
“I felt comfortable,” Haney continued. “I stuck to the game plan…I deprived him of what he does best.”
With his victory, Haney enters a very exclusive club of boxers, since he is only the eighth in history to unify the belts.
The other seven are Bernard Hopkins (middleweight), Jermain Taylor (middleweight), Terence Crawford (super lightweight), Oleksandr Usyk (middleweight), Josh Taylor (super lightweight), Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (super middleweight), and Jermell Charlo ( super welterweight).
