A chorus of boos rang out as George Kambosos Jr’s hand was raised after being out-punched and out-manoeuvred by Maxi Hughes over twelve.
The Brit went on the road to Oklahoma to defend his IBO World Lightweight title and fight for the top position in the IBF rankings. With the odds against him, he registered a performance that many feel should have seen his win streak move to eight.
It was Australia’s Kambosos who got the nod in the end – a majority decision with the scores of 114-114, 115-113, and a completely absurd 117-111.
Hughes worked the head and body over the distance, cutting the former unified lightweight champion above the eye with a clean shot, whilst later being cut himself from a clash of heads. He landed almost double the jabs that Kambosos managed.
A HUGE Round 5 for Maxi Hughes ?#KambososHughes | LIVE on @ESPN pic.twitter.com/710zViDrpc
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 23, 2023
None of that registered with the judges at ringside, and boxing fans were once again incensed.
“A blatant robbery,” said one in response to Top Rank’s announcement of the winner. Others called it embarrassing and a horrible decision, with a particular focus on Josef Mason’s 117-111 score.
.@GeorgeKambosos gets it done via Majority Decision ?? #KambososHughes pic.twitter.com/wrD8muaDwH
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 23, 2023
The result was compared to 2022’s Josh Taylor-Jack Catterall controversy, with some branding this even worse. A few said a draw would have been the only reasonable result for Kambosos, but most had Hughes a clear winner.
“Another loss for the sport of boxing,” was perhaps the most pertinent, as Hughes, at 33, has been cruelly a set back. A rematch would be the right decision, but Kambosos pushing on to bigger fights is much more likely.
When discussing the fight, veteran boxing journalist, Dan Rafael, described it as ‘a f***ing disgrace’ with ‘garbage scores’, but ‘so f***ing predictable.’ Shakur Stevenson called it a robbery.
I’m speechless.. just want to thank everybody for their support.
— Maxi Hughes (@BOXERMAXIHUGHES) July 23, 2023
