George Kambosos Jr.’s title victory was one of the greatest fights in recent years.
Making his debut in 2013, the Australian would find himself fighting for a world title for the first time in 2021.
Taking on the WBA, IBF, and WBO World Lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos Jr. was a huge underdog. However, Lopez and Kambosos Jr. had an incredible fight that would see the champion knocked down and lose his crown.
The fight was considered one of the best of 2021, as well as one of the greatest modern-day upsets.
Following the win, Kambosos Jr. discussed his triumph on the popular podcast show, The Joe Rogan Experience.
Joe Rogan talks to George Kambosos Jr. about his fight with Teofimo Lopez
Being a guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast in 2021, Kambosos Jr. spoke to the host about his world title triumph.
The episode was uploaded in December of 2021, just the month after the Australian became world champion for the first time.
Rogan started by asking the fighter what it felt like to be a world champion. Kambosos Jr. responded by saying, “It’s been pretty crazy. Obviously, [I’m] on top of the world right now.”
He would then add that becoming a world champion has always been a vision for him, as Kambosos Jr. ‘manifested’ the achievement.
The two would go on to watch the fight that would see Kambosos Jr. dethrone Lopez, specifically focusing on the knockdown in the opening round.
Rogan said, “I screamed when I watched it,” to which Kambosos Jr. responded by saying, “The whole world just jumped.”
The then-champion then said he felt the knockdown showed people that the fight would be more competitive than oddsmakers had the bout.
Watching the moments leading up to the knockdown, Rogan said, “You were in front of him but you weren’t there… Your head movement… God, it’s just gorgeous boxing.”
Kambosos Jr. spoke on the knockdown by saying he could see a dazing look in his opponent’s eyes, having hit the canvas. Rogan then described the performance of the underdog as ‘amazing.’
Kambosos would go on to win his fight against Lopez via split decision, becoming world champion.
George Kambosos Jr. would drop his titles to Devin Haney
Despite his incredible title-winning performance, Kambosos Jr.’s belts would be taken from him just seven months later in June 2022.
Facing Devin Haney, the pair would meet in a world title fight for the undisputed lightweight crown. However, it was then-27-0 Haney who emerged victorious.
Winning the fight via unanimous decision in Australia, the loss was the first of Kambosos Jr.’s career. The two would rematch later that year, however, the same result would occur.
Despite winning the IBO World Lightweight title against Maxi Hughes in 2023, Kambosos Jr. would lose to Vasyl Lomachenko via TKO in 2024.