Former unified lightweight champion George "Ferocious" Kambosos Jr. makes his Top Rank debut fighting against 33-year-old southpaw Maxi Hughes in the 12-round main event at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The event will be broadcast live on SKY SPORTS, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Kambosos, coming off a two-fight losing streak, is eager to reassert his dominance and climb back into title contention. The 29-year-old Australian is using this opportunity to position himself as the mandatory challenger for Devin Haney’s IBF title. Kambosos’ most recent losses were against Haney, prompting speculation that a third match would be moot, especially as Haney might vacate his belts and move up to the 140-lb division.
However, if Haney abdicates his titles, a tantalizing prospect arises. The exciting Gervonta Davis could potentially claim the vacant title. For Kambosos, a victory over Hughes could then pave the way for a highly lucrative bout against Davis. “It’s a good moment for Maxi to say he fought Kambosos,” said Kambosos Jr, setting the tone for an engaging showdown. “You picked the worst possible time to get back in the ring with someone like myself,” Kambosos Jr added, in a conversation with Secondsout. No doubt, Hughes will have to bring his best game to compete with Kambosos’ gritty fighting style and determination. This showdown promises to be a must-watch event for boxing enthusiasts, as it sets the stage for the future dynamics of the lightweight division.
In the co-feature, U.S. Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (8-0, 6 KOs) will meet former European champion Francesco Patera (28-3, 10 KOs) in the 10-round clash.
Davis, who accumulated a 3-0 record in the professional realm before bagging a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is coming off a recent victory over Anthony Yigit, which he achieved via a ninth-round TKO. The 24-year-old aims to maintain his swift climb in the lightweight ranks, despite Patera being his toughest challenge yet. On the other hand, 30-year-old Patera, a professional boxer for eight years, has been on a winning streak since 2017, boasting ten consecutive victories. He is riding high on a first-round knockout triumph against Irakli Shariashvili in April.
Main card:
▪️George Kambosos Jr vs. Maxi Hughes, 12 rounds, for IBF lightweight title eliminator ▪️Keyshawn Davis vs. Francesco Patera, 10 rounds, lightweight
Undercard: (begins at 6:10 pm ET)
▪️Giovani Santillan vs. Erick Bone, 10 rounds, welterweight ▪️Jeremiah Milton vs. Willie Harvey, 8 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Troy Isley vs. Antonio Todd, 8 rounds, middleweight ▪️Amron Sands vs. Hemi Ahio, 8 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Stephan Shaw vs. Joseph Goodall, 8 rounds, heavyweight
Watch Kambosos Jr. & Hughes Get In Each Other Faces During Weigh-In: Watch
