George Kambosos Jr. finds himself more motivated than ever for Teofimo Lopez

It got here like a bolt from nowhere that Tuesday morning, June 15, 4 days away from the light-weight world championship combat between world champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. and George Kambosos Jr. in Miami.

That’s when Kambosos and his father, Jim, acquired a name. It was Peter Kahn, Kambosos’ supervisor, telling them they should come to his lodge room.

As soon as George and Jim walked in, they may inform instantly one thing was incorrect by the dour expression on Kahn’s face.

Jim requested, “Hey, Pete, what’s occurring?”

Kahn, Kambosos’ supervisor, advised George and his father to take a seat down.

“What do you imply sit down?” Jim requested.

In a somber tone, Kahn urged the Australian duo once more to take a seat.

Then Kahn blurted it out, “Lopez has COVID(-19).”

The emotional outburst that adopted featured a torrent of cursing and facial distortions.

“I used to be so indignant, I used to be able to get on a non-public jet and fly straight to Las Vegas and discover (Lopez), COVID or not, that’s how I used to be at that time,” Kambosos mentioned. “I used to be able to combat. However it’s what it’s. What do you do? It occurred. I don’t want any unhealthy well being on the man. I hope he will get higher, and his spouse, who I perceive had it, too.

“I hope he makes a full restoration and I would like him at 110-percent, as a result of after I beat him, I don’t need any excuses.”

The Triller Struggle Membership pay-per-view was initially rescheduled to August 14 at LoanDepot Park, in Miami, the place Lopez (16-0, 12 knockouts) would defend the Ring/IBF/WBO/WBA/WBC “franchise” belts. Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs) decisioned Lee Selby, in London, again in October to benefit the IBF necessary shot towards the 23-year-old Lopez.

As per quite a few sources, the combat seems like it will likely be pushed again even additional, to September 11 as a part of Oscar De La Hoya’s ring return on Triller, permitting Lopez extra time to get better.

“I wish to combat this man as quickly as attainable, however I’m keen to attend, and I do know there may be speak on the market a few rematch between Lopez and (Vasiliy) Lomachenko,” Kambosos mentioned. “I can’t wait to see it. I wish to see it. They’ll combat with out the belts, as a result of they’ll all be mine. So, go forward, they’ll take the rematch and I had plans of my very own to combat Lomachenko, as a result of he desires that rematch so badly, let him have it with none belts.

“Go forward and make that combat. I’ll combat Devin Haney with all the belts on the road then. I simply know that Lopez was too sick to even get off the bed, and he by no means left Vegas 4 days previous to the (scheduled June) combat. Teofimo Lopez Sr. went on report saying his son was staying protected and he wasn’t sick, although each time anybody handed the bar, the daddy was in there.

“So, that was a load of s—t.

“Me and my complete staff made certain every thing stayed protected. I wished to show that myself and everybody on my staff got here out destructive. I really feel unhealthy for everybody who confirmed up. There was just one fighter who rucked up and was able to combat.”

Within the meantime, Kambosos has returned to Australia and continues to coach. Although he did go away Australia full of a precious motivational push from a legend—Corridor of Famer Bernard Hopkins.

“B-Hop” advised Kambosos, 28, the entire state of affairs will solely make him stronger in the long term. Kambosos and Hopkins spoke for 20 minutes, and Hopkins careworn to Kambosos that he’s going to have time to succeed in a “subsequent degree,” and be even higher for the Lopez combat, whereas Lopez might not have the time to enhance.

Fighters are fighters, and so they adapt, Hopkins suggested, and so they maintain shifting ahead.

“I heard every thing, that Lopez couldn’t make weight, the combat wasn’t promoting and all types of conspiracy theories,” mentioned Kambosos, The Ring’s No. 8-ranked light-weight. “I do know Lopez has bronchial asthma. We all know he has COVID-19. When Triller first bid the occasion, the combat was purported to be behind closed doorways, in order that doesn’t matter.

“In the event that they wished to do numbers, they need to have had the combat in Australia. Like Bernard Hopkins mentioned, I’ve the time to get higher and that I maintain shifting ahead.

“This complete factor is a really fluid state of affairs. If the combat must be pushed again to September, I’m okay with that, so long as Lopez is totally wholesome. A September combat would imply that I might miss the beginning of my third little one.

“Individuals have been telling me to calm down; that combat goes to occur. Put your self in my footwear. Nobody realizes what we as fighters undergo. I went months with out seeing my youngsters. I flew my pregnant spouse over, with my father and my Australian coach over.

“We had been on weight. We had been prepared for conflict—and we’re nonetheless prepared for conflict.

Lopez is 23 and it reveals how a lot of a child is. He was fully irresponsible. Karma is a bitch and it’ll come up and chew Lopez within the ass after I lastly get my palms on him.

“As pissed as I’m, it was the followers, the undercard fighters who traveled there, everybody concerned with the combat and the Triller staff had every thing ready and put their lives on maintain for this combat. One individual ruined this. Okay, he obtained, there’s no dispute he obtained it.

“Now, I wish to kick his ass. I educated that Tuesday evening we heard that Lopez had COVID. I’m shifting ahead, and whereas he’s recovering in his mattress, and he can’t shadow field for greater than 45 seconds, I’m shadow boxing for 3 hours.

“So, go forward, Lomachenko and Lopez can have their rematch. I give them my blessing. They’ll simply do it with out all the belts. On the finish of the day, in all seriousness, I hope Lopez does get better and I would like him to get higher. It nonetheless doesn’t imply I received’t kick his ass. He’s making me wait and it’s making me extra of a hungry lion.

“Yeah, you’ll be able to name me the get together crasher, as a result of I’m going to spoil the plans of the light-weight division.”

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He will be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.