George Kambosos Jr has hit back at Devin Haney over his 2020 ‘white boy’ comments ahead of their blockbuster fight on Sunday, 5 June.
Back in 2020, Haney was asked about whether the then WBA and WBO lightweight champion Vasiliy Lamachenko posed a threat to him.
The WBC lightweight champion responded with some remarks that landed him in some strife.
He replied: “I will never lose to a white boy in my life, I don‘t care what nobody got to say.
“Listen, ain‘t no white boy beat me. I don’t care, on any day of the week.
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“I fight a white boy like 10 times, I’m gonna beat him 10 times.”
Just a few days following the incident, Haney apologised for the comments, saying: “Over the last couple days I’ve had time to reflect on a lot.
“I sincerely regret using a term that I have now learned to be derogatory to many of my fans, friends and associates.
“I have learned a valuable lesson and I will continue to show the kind of person that I really am and will continue my quest for greatness inside and outside the ring.”
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However, ahead of their marquee fight which will see the unification of the WBA, WBO, IBF and the WBC titles for the first time, Kambosos has claimed he didn’t buy the apology.
The Australian labelled the comments ‘disrespectful to humanity’ and to ‘white people around the world’.
He told The Daily Telegraph: “One thing about me, I can talk the talk, but I am always respectful of people regardless of race, religion, colour or creed.
“I have some African-American friends and they are among the most beautiful people in the world.
“If he wants to bring race into it, that’s on him and he has to look at himself in the mirror and take responsibility for what he said and live with it.
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“If he thinks no white man will beat him, well I am going to punch his head in on Sunday and maybe then he will get an appreciation for my ability.”
The clash is certainly heating up ahead of Sunday.
More than 45,000 people are expected at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne for the blockbuster fight between two undefeated stars, according to Code Sports.
The winner will become the lightweight division’s first-ever undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
Jayden Collins