Fate of Aussie's $8m world title fight decided

3 years ago 348

The IBF has ended immoderate hopes of the $8 cardinal George Kambosos Jr vs Teofimo Lopez lightweight satellite rubric combat being held successful Sydney.

But the sanctioning assemblage has astatine slightest acceptable a deadline for the combat to occur: October 17, apt inactive successful the US. The IBF ruling said that the bout could not beryllium held anyplace that requires the fighters to quarantine, ruling retired Australia.

If promoter Triller fails to lodge contracts for the combat wrong 15 days, the adjacent highest bidder from the purse bid - Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing - volition beryllium awarded the fight; should it take to accept.

If Lopez fails to sign, his IBF lightweight satellite rubric volition beryllium declared vacant. Australian prima Kambosos made wide aft the ruling that helium expected the combat to beryllium set, with nary further delays.

Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr look disconnected during a property conference. (Getty Images for Triller)

Lopez - the IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine champion - was meant to combat IBF mandatory challenger Kambosos connected June 14 successful Miami. The day was cancelled erstwhile Lopez tested affirmative for COVID-19.

Triller past looked astatine dates successful August and September, earlier pushing for October 17 successful Australia. That program has been dashed, though Kambosos trains retired of Miami anyway. Triller co-founder Ryan Kavanaugh told ESPN that Las Vegas venues would beryllium explored.

Meeting the October day volition necessitate a monolithic idiosyncratic sacrifice from Kambosos, with his woman Bec owed to springiness commencement to their 3rd kid successful mid-September. Kambosos antecedently told Wide World of Sports that helium was prepared to miss the commencement to realise his imagination of becoming champion.

"This is however overmuch it means to me: if it means maine missing the commencement of my 3rd kid, past truthful beryllium it, due to the fact that I'm connected a mission. I request to triumph this fight, I request to triumph these belts," helium said successful June, aft the combat was postponed.

Triller was conscious of doing the close happening by Kambosos aft Lopez, 24, tested positive, with the Australian fuming astatine the "irresponsible" champion. Kambosos, 28, is much determined than ever to instrumentality the American's belts.

George Kambosos Jr and Teofimo Lopez. (Getty)

Getting the combat acceptable is successful the champion interests of some fighters, fixed however overmuch stronger the Triller bid was compared to others. Triller bid $US6 cardinal ($8.1m), compared to conscionable $US3.5 cardinal ($4.8m) from Matchroom. Lopez's regular promoter - Top Rank, with who helium disagreed implicit the fight's worth - bid lone $US2.3 cardinal ($3.1m). Top Rank whitethorn inactive get the combat if Matchroom passes connected its rights arsenic 2nd bidder.

If Triller forfeits the fight, it volition suffer 20 per cent - $US1,203,600 ($1.6m) - to the fighters; pursuing the 65-35 purse divided to Lopez and Kambosos respectively.

Kambosos stands to gain $US2,106,300 nether the Triller bid - $2.9 cardinal Australian by existent speech rates. Yet helium values the belts acold more.

"I've had this imaginativeness for a precise agelong time, the imaginativeness of getting to here, and I ever knew the wealth would come," Kambosos antecedently told Wide World of Sports.

"I've ne'er chased the wealth and inactive to this day, with that nice, beauteous pay-day, it's not astir the money. I don't attraction astir the money.

"Beautiful, that sets up my family, that makes things a small spot easier. But my drive, my motivation, is them belts and leaving a legacy."

Kambosos boasts a 19-0 (10 KOs) record, against Lopez's 16-0 (12 KOs).

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