Jeff Fenech warns George Kambosos Jr he hasn’t done enough in the ring to be a boxing great

Australian sporting legend Jeff Fenech has warned George Kambosos Jr he must beat Devin Haney on Sunday in their highly anticipated lightweight WBC bout to be widely considered a boxing great.

Fenech, 58, who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame in 2002, was impressed by Kambosos’ impressive win over Teofimo Lopez last November – but was quick to point out one victory doesn’t make a career.

Kambosos, 28, who holds the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO belts, will also secure the WBC title if he stuns US superstar Haney (27-0) at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne in front of 55,000 fans.

Fenech pointed to Buster Douglas, who stunned Mike Tyson in 1990 in one of world boxing’s biggest ever upsets, as a prominent example. 

‘What did he (Douglas) do after it? He is remembered for winning one fight,’ he said.

The man dubbed the Marrickville Mauler also fears Kambosos (pictured) is buying into his own hype after he labelled himself ‘unbeatable’ and a ‘Spartan warrior’

Kambosos Jr claimed the WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a win over Teofimo Lopez that sent shockwaves around the boxing world last November

‘George has won one (major) fight against a guy (Lopez) who totally underrated him, who was totally underprepared.’

Fenech, a former WBC featherweight, WBC super bantamweight and IBF bantamweight champion, did concede it was an ‘amazing performance’ but stressed it was ‘important not to get overly carried away yet.’

He wasn’t finished yet, declaring Kambosos ‘can hate me, or say he’s better than me’, before questioning why the Sydney raised orthodox boxer has the tendency to carry his title belts everywhere.

‘I don’t need my own (belts), and you know why? Because if I see the likes of Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis, they all honour me, they all know I can fight,’ he told Fox Sports.

‘That’s when you know you’ve made it.’

Kambosos will have plenty of Greek and Australian fans cheering him on at Marvel Stadium on Sunday

 Devin Haney can become the youngest undisputed champion in the four-belt era with victory over Kambosos in Melbourne

The man dubbed the ‘Marrickville Mauler’ also fears Kambosos is buying into his own hype. 

He pointed to Kambosos, yet to taste defeat in 20 professional fights, stating he was ‘unbeatable’ and that he labelled himself a modern-day ‘Spartan warrior.’

When it comes to the action in the ring, Fenech believes the first couple of rounds will be crucial.

‘If George can take authority early and make Devin fight his fight, George can definitely win,’ he said.

‘But if he doesn’t, he is in trouble. When I look at Devin Haney, he reminds me of a young ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. He’s got great skills and they only come around once in a long time.’