George Kambosos Jr is the Champion of the World

AND THE NEW!!! The words not only heard around the boxing world, but the whole world.

Sydney’s own George Kambosos Jr yesterday defeated the much hyped and also undefeated American Teófimo López in the heart of New York City’s famous Madison Square Garden, making him the undisputed World Champion and the owner of one of the greatest upsets in history. As a 7-1 underdog not many gave the Australian who claims fans both here and in Greece a chance.

That is, unless you’ve met the man.

I first met a young Kambosos in 2015 at the Rockdale PCYC, also the home of the legend Kostya Tszyu and current rising star Tim Tszyu.

It was at that first encounter with George that I was sure one day he would be a World Champion. In this profession you often meet a young athlete or fighter that says that want to be the champ one day.

But with the conviction that George Kambosos Jr has always had that he’d be champion one day. It’s hard not to believe him when you’re talking to him. And as history now shows, he was right.

You always got the feeling with him that he truly believed it was his destiny to be champion of the world.

And on a Sunday afternoon Sydney time, in the most famous arena in the world. Both George and his destiny became one. An historic moment for boxing fans everywhere.

In all of the dealings I’ve had with him since that first meeting and photoshoot, he has been nothing but a class act and a gentleman.

Stirred on by his unwavering belief in himself and the manners befitting a hero.

At 28 years of age his career has only just begun and to anyone who has met the young man from Sydney would say. It wouldn’t happen to a better bloke.

A few highlights from the land of Twitter.

This from famed boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who put on the now famous bout.

Also George’s former training partner the legend himself Manny Pacquiao.

What’s next for George will be determined in due course, but for the time being it’s a lesson to us all. Believe in yourself and great things can happen.

All the best George.

Chris Lane