George Kambosos vs Maxi Hughes Set for July 22, Undercard Revealed
George Kambosos Jr. will make his Top Rank boxing debut on July 22, 2023, against Maxi Hughes, the promotion has announced.
Kambosos and Hughes will fight in the IBF world title eliminator bout, which will air on ESPN in United States. The event takes place at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The fight was earlier expected on July 29, but the announcement of Errol Spence Jr. vs Terence Crawford seems to have shifted the event to a week earlier.
Former unified lightweight champion Kambosos has signed a multi-fight co-promotional agreement with Top Rank alongside Australia’s DiBella Entertainment and his own Ferocious Promotions. Kambosos’ most famous win came against Teofimo Lopez Jr. in November 2021 which came via unanimous decision to take away WBO, WBA(super) & IBF lightweight titles.
JUST ANNOUNCED 🚨@GeorgeKambosos makes his TR debut against @BoxerMaxiHughes in a Lightweight title eliminator on Saturday, July 22. pic.twitter.com/1fEGhBcZSG
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 30, 2023
Kambosos then suffered back-to-back losses to Devin Haney over undisputed lightweight titles last year. WBC Lightweight Champion at the time, Haney first beat Kambosos in June 2022 in Melbourne, Australia, to also win Kambosos’ all 3 titles to become the undisputed lightweight champion. He later defeated Kambosos once again in the rematch at the same venue.
Hughes already holds IBO World Lightweight title, but that title does not seem to be on the line in this bout. Hughes is currently on a 7-fights winning streak having won the title against Jovanni Straffon in September 2021 and defending it successfully against Ryan Walsh and Kid Galahad.
Olympic Silver Medalist Keyshawn Davis takes another big step in his pro career as he faces former European Champion Francesco Patera in a 10-round bout. Davis is coming off an impressive win over Anthony Yigit in his last bout to take his record to 8-0(6 KOs). Belgium’s Patera is also on a 10 fights winning streak currently. The bout will be the co-main event and will also air on ESPN.
Top Rank also announced other bouts for ESPN+ preliminary card, which is as below:
- Middleweight Troy Isley in action in 8 rounds bout
- Heavyweight Jeremiah Milton in action in 8 rounds bout
- 10 rounds Welterweight – Giovani Santilla vs Erick Bone
- 8 rounds Heavyweight – Mike Balogun vs Hemi Ahio
- 8 rounds Heavyweight – Roney Hines vs Michael Pirotton
