Report- Haney Agrees To Kambosos Deal Including Australian Rematch

Well that didn’t take long. Just a day or two after Undisputed Lightweight champion George Kambosos and his representatives made public that they had given Californian Devin Haney deadline to accept the terms to come fight him in a June mega-fight, Haney has reportedly agreed. And, that includes the rematch clause that would also be in Australia.

Boxingscene.com’s Sr. Writer Keith Idec reported exclusively again Sunday about the Haney concession to all important terms and that the bout is on for Mebourne, Australia June 4th,

Haney Agrees To Fight Kambosos On June 5th In Melbourne As Part Of Multi-Fight Deal https://t.co/hHzgj68Fzb pic.twitter.com/9lIIYCXR06

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) March 27, 2022

From Idec’s report, including the new details on Haney being forced to the rematch clause,

BoxingScene.com has confirmed that Haney has agreed to challenge George Kambosos Jr. on June 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. ESPN will televise their 12-round, 135-pound title fight, which barring a draw or no-contest, will crown boxing’s first fully unified lightweight champion in the four-belt era.

As part of Haney’s agreement with Lou DiBella, Kambosos’ promoter, and Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., which has an exclusive content agreement with ESPN, he has agreed to an immediate rematch clause that would obligate him to box Kambosos again in Australia if Haney wins their upcoming bout and remains a lightweight. If Haney were to defeat Kambosos in back-to-back bouts, the 23-year-old Las Vegas resident could then face Vasiliy Lomachenko in what would be an ESPN Pay-Per-View event. 

As Idec wrote, the apparent “one way rematch clause” for down under is contingent first on Haney winning the fight, but then if he stays at Lightweight.

The incentive for Haney, 27-0, 15 KOs, is these will be the biggest fights/paydays of his career. Further, it’s a chance at leverage, where Haney would have all the titles an could get a massive share to the theoretical Kambosos rematch and if victorious a potential huge fight in Las Vegas, etc. with Lomachenko.

Kambosos, 20-0, 10 KOs, is in the driver’s seat as Undisputed champ after his win last November in New York over Teofimo Lopez.

As we wrote this weekend, Haney had been deadlined by Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella to accept the terms, including for the purse split and that ESPN will televiese the June 4th battle back to the U.S. It’s unclear whether they will offer the bout over the air or on PPV. Haney has had a deal with Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing and the DAZN streaming service. However, he’s a promotional free agent and DAZN didn’t meet the financial offer that ESPN gave.

The network did that deal with Top Rank Boxing who promotes Lomachenko for him to try to regain his titles by beating Kambosos in Australia. However, the Ukrainian has decided to remain in his country, as Russia continues to attack and invade it. Ukraine continues to order all males 18-60 years to be part of their civilian militia to fight against the Russians. To this point, Lomachenko has not decided to seek an exception.

His countryman Oleksandr Usyk did just that and because he’s married with at least two children, he’s allowed to evacuated them with him to nearby Poland or another location to train for his Heavyweight title rematch with England’s Anthony Joshua likely in late June.

As Idec reported, there are not signed contracts and the formal announcement of him agreeing won’t come until Haney does, but that should be this week.