“Rat” or not, American star Devin Haney represents confidence more than anything else ahead of Sunday’s world title lightweight unification fight in Melbourne.
While George Kambosos Jr is in his element with the microphone in front of him — calling his opponent a “rat” and “informant” in their latest face-off on Monday — Haney has already taken audacious steps few would have dared to get the fight across the line.
Vaccine? Sure.
Short change? OK.
Belt on the line? Naturally. Switching promoters and network? Sure.
Re-match clause in the contract? Down Under, again? Yep.
Coaches? Nowhere to be seen.
Were Haney (27-0, 15KOs) looking for a quick buck, he’s not getting it by flying to the other side of the world without his coach and father, Bill.
The 23-year-old is already on the path to greatness and could have not accepted the terms and conditions. Few would have blamed him had he withdrawn after the news broke that his father would not be joining him.
“You guys (Team Kambosos) can have whatever you want,” Haney told Cigar Talk. “You guys wanted the bigger lump sum of the money, or you guys wanted to be there (home country) whatever the case may be.
“I just wanted fair judges, I wanted a fair playing ground and that’s all.”
Frank Stea, who helped organise Haney’s training program at Top Rank, confirmed officiating remains the biggest concern from the Haney camp.
“My only concern, just like anyone from the United States, is how fair the officiating is, how fair the judges are going to be,” Stea told foxsports.com.au.
“We know it’s not going to be local judges.
“It’s also a crowd. You guys are expecting 40,000 plus.”
