Unbeaten IBF #3 lightweight George Kambosos Jr (19-0, 10 KOs) scored a twelve round split decision over former IBF featherweight champion and current IBF #4 Lee Selby (28-3, 9 KOs) in a final eliminator for the IBF lightweight world title on Saturday night at the SSE Arena, outside London, England. Kambosos pressed the action and threw the harder punches while slickster Selby tried to box. In the end, judges scored it 118-110, 116-112 Kambosos, 115-114 Selby.
“I can’t get this smile off my face,” said Kambosos afterward. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I dug deep and I won a lot of them rounds. The big shots landed and I thought he was hurt a few times.
“That’s a former World Champion. The guy is still a very respected fighter. It was a great win. That’s two former World Champions in their backyards. I’m a road warrior. I’m a proud Aussie. I knew I won the fight. The whole time people thought I was being arrogant. I was never arrogant to him. It’s just confidence and self-belief. I’m a young hungry lion. I was never arrogant to him. I respect him.
“I knew the job I would do. I’m a confident fighter and I back my ability. I thought I hurt him a few times and I thought he nearly went. He’s an experienced guy and he beat Ricky Burns in his last fight. I’m the young hungry guy coming up. That was a great win. That’s another twelve rounds in my bank. The body shots busted him up. The right hand to the body, the stiff jab to the body. I was very composed. I feel like I’m in my prime. There’s so much more work to do. I’m coming for the unified lightweight world title against Teofimo Lopez. Two young hungry fighters!”
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Female middleweight Savannah Marshall (9-0, 7 KOs) punished Hannah Rankin (9-5, 2 KOs) for seven rounds to claim the vacant WBO title. Rankin finally sunk to a knee and the bout was stopped. Time was 1:59.
In a clash for the vacant European cruiserweight title, Tommy McCarthy (17-2, 8 KOs) won a twelve round majority decision over Bilal Laggoune (25-2-2, 14 KOs). Scores were 114-114, 116-112, 116-113.
Marshall looked ok. I did watch the shield rankin right and I think marshall did a better job. Maybe that means something. She called her out anyway. Would be cool to see one of these Brits with a decent fan base give shields a good fight. shield looks technically much better but good luck to marshall
Who said that Kambosos needs to KO Selby to win , our judges are fair unlike in America.
How did the British judge give the fight to Selby?!
But Selby clearly won – by at LEAST a round. That decision was crap.
115=114 Selby by one judge was bull crap.
Kambosos deff went for the KO so he didnt have to lose by home town judging.
Selby had the referee in his pocket. Kambosos was getting hit behind the head 30 seconds into the first round right up until the bell. I had Selby ahead at the end and was shocked Kambosos got the decision.
When Kamboso punched he was very effective but his punch output was poor. There is an argument he was outworked in many of the rounds.
The 135 pounds category has too much level in this moment. I don’t think Kambosos is in the same level than Teófimo, Haney, Kingry…and of course Gervonta.
I’m all for Kambosos winning a title and bring it back to Australia however i think your right about the guys at the top.
The most impressive fighter of the night was Marshall. I was not impressed by Kambosos. Selby outworked him most of the night. Kambosos just didn’t punch enough to win the fight.
You can never tell what the judges were thinking, but if moving forward aggressively without actually punching counts, they must have given him a lot of credit for that. I’m always looking to see who is actually throwing and landing. Selby was a slippery customer and he moved all night, but I thought he deserved the decision.