George Kambosos has done it ! Undisputed Lightweight Champion of the world.
The 28-year-old Sydneysider stunned unbeaten favourite Teofimo Lopez via decision, 115-11, 115-113, 113-114.
He knocked down Lopez in the first round, and while Lopez returned the favour in the tenth, the Aussie at times dominated his fancied opponent and did enough to win it on the cards.
GEORGE KAMBOSOS JNR IS THE NEW CHAMP!!!!!
A split decision win to the Australian!
Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. has pulled off one of boxing’s great recent upsets, becoming the IBF, WBO, WBA,WBC franchise and The Ring lightweight world champion.
Both fighters were transported to a local hospital after the bout -- Lopez for two separate cuts over both eyes and Kambosos for dehydration.
"I don't care what anybody says," Lopez said, "I won tonight. At the end of the day, I've been here, I've done it. Look, I'm not a sore loser. I take my wins like I take my losses.
"At the end of the day, I'm a true champion. I came out here, I did what I had to do, and I went out there and I did my best. . This is the takeover. We don't stop; we keep coming."
For Lopez, it was a shocking fall from grace. Just 13 months ago, Lopez upset future Hall of Famer Vasiliy Lomachenko to claim four lightweight titles in a career-defining victory. The landmark win earned Lopez the No. 7 spot in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings and seemingly set him on the path to superstardom.
Following a careerlong layoff, a battle with COVID-19 and all the chaos that swirled around the rescheduled bout, Lopez appeared tired over the last eight rounds Saturday night.
"They've been draining me all the time," Lopez, 24, said of his difficulty to make the 135-pound limit.
Kambosos was ahead on all three scorecards when Lopez floored him with a punishing right hand. The first-time title challenger was on unsteady legs but still fired back as he attempted to regain his balance.
By the time Round 11 rolled around, Kambosos had found his senses. Over the championship rounds, Kambosos gained the judges' favor on a possible four out of six frames.
"It wasn't a big knockdown," said Kambosos, who entered the bout rated No. 9 by ESPN at 135 pounds. "I wanted to feel the power. [I thought], 'I'm going to punish him for what he just done to me.'"
Both fighters landed career-best purses Saturday night: Lopez earned $3,178,000 and Kambosos $1,527,100.
With the victory, Kambosos is now the top fighter in one of boxing's most stacked divisions. Lightweight is home to Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and Joseph Diaz Jr.
Tributes for Kambosos were led by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, while fellow Australian UFC fighter Alex Volkanovski among others delighted by the result.
Congratulations to my friend, @georgekambosos, on an epic win! You helped me in so many of my past fights, I hope our hundreds of rounds of sparring helped you in some way tonight. I’m proud of you. #LopezKambosos
— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) November 28, 2021
How good!!🇦🇺 #LopezKambosos https://t.co/oLLsoWLCP8
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) November 28, 2021
