When George Kambosos Jr accused Devin Haney of being a ‘rat’ and an ‘informant’ on Monday the American tried his best to get a word in.
The press conference for this weekend’s undisputed lightweight title fight in Melbourne gave Kambosos the opportunity to lay into his opponent.
Prior to beating Teofimo Lopez last year to win three of the four world titles the Australian claimed Haney had passed on information about the personal life of the then champion. Over the past week footage has since emerged online of Haney celebrating Kambosos’ victory as well.
“He said he would fight me if he won so of course I was rooting for him,” explained Haney during a sit down with Fox Sports Australia at Sunday’s outdoor fight venue Marvel Stadium.
“I wanted him to win,” he reiterated. “We had multiple conversations back and forth and I wished him good luck. And he said he would fight me, and he won, and I said good luck to you, and I’ll see you after and here we are.”
Haney told Kambosos, who was sitting directly across from him during the broadcast, he didn’t know what the term ‘rat’ meant. The WBC champion then fired the same insult back referring to the three-belt title holder’s sparring with Manny Pacquiao during the Filipino’s preparations for his fight against Jeff Horn back in 2017.
“He’s mad at you for that,” Haney informed Kambosos.
As has been widely reported Devin’s father and trainer Bill has been denied a visa to travel to Australia because of a criminal conviction in the 1990s. His son has been asked on countless occasions what it will be like without the presence of such an influential figure.
“We’re still working to get him here so we can’t rule that out completely,” said Devin.
“Hopefully, God willing, he’s able to come but if not I’m 100% ready. Ready to go. I have a great team with me. A team of soldiers that’s ready to go to war with me. We’re ready to go. It is what it is. We’ve got to keep pushing. June 5, tune in, because I’m not coming out without the belts. I’m leaving undisputed no matter what, by any means necessary. The world will see with or without my father I’m gonna be undisputed.”