Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
George Kambosos Jr. is confident ahead of his fight with undisputed and unbeaten lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. on Saturday in New York City.
The Australian, ranked No. 1 by the IBF, believes he has better tools than his American counterpart.
“My speed and the way I move and explosive power and shots that I land and throw and the punches in bunches and the combination punches that I have in my artillery, and my stamina and my fitness is just too much for this kid,” Kambosos told AAP .
“He’s been saying he’ll knock me out first round. Before he got COVID on June 19, he said he was going to knock me out within three, so what’s changed?”
The long delay will help him spring a surprise, he believes.
“His fitness and his stamina is nowhere near what it has to be so he’s hoping and he’s praying that it’s one round because it has to be,” Kambosos said. “What’s he going to do for the next 11 when he doesn’t get that first-round knockout?
“If that’s his only game plan, then he’s in big, big trouble. I’m fully prepared. I’m ready for 12 rounds. I’m old school so, if they want, we can do 15 rounds like the greats of our sport.”
The 28-year-old from Sydney also defended himself against critics of his style, which some say lacks decisive power.
“Look, volume punching in boxing is if you throw a lot of punches and I do that,” Kambosos said. “I’ve got a big motor. Throughout the 12 rounds, I keep going. Every round I keep getting better and better and keep throwing more punches.
“But my defense is so underrated in the boxing world. I’m super sharp and my reflexes, my head movement, my footwork in and out, they’re going to find out the hard way, Lopez is.
“They don’t believe in my defense and think this is going to be an easy fight for him, but they’re going to find out the hard way. … He relies on his power but when you’ve got a guy like myself who can bang as well but has super fast hands and ring IQ, I just know I’m going to beat him.
“Everything that he brings to the table, I do better.”
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