George Kambosos is standing on stage, shirtless, and shadow boxing while waiting for one of the greatest boxers of the past 20 years to show himself.
Already, the Australian and his father Jim, a constant by his son’s side and right now holding a t-shirt removed by the fighter only moments earlier, have been told the wait will only be another 30 seconds.
So dad, he starts the countdown.
Boxing: Lomachenko v Kambosos IBF Lightweight World Title Fight | MON 12 MAY 12PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
“30 seconds,” Kambosos snr shouts, looking over towards a large red curtain through which, several minutes ago now, Vasiliy Lomachenko was supposed to appear.
But he didn’t.
And still hasn’t.
Which for a fella famed for his timing, has to be by design.
“20 seconds,” Jim shouts as his boy, the former unified lightweight king, and the bloke responsible for one of the greatest upsets in Aussie fight history, continues moving, throwing, waiting.
But still, nothing.
For some time now, the Main Event broadcast crew have been asking through headsets to organisers backstage exactly who, if anyone, knows where one half of the main event might be.
After all, this is one of the greatest fighters to hit these shores in years.
A future Hall of Famer who boasts not only world titles at three weights, or two Olympic golds, but that amateur record so ridiculously imposing you would reckon it had to be made up at the pub.
And now this Sunday, the man known globally as ‘Loma’ throws down against Kambosos for the IBF lightweight title.
A belt which, for both men, brings all sorts of opportunity.
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“And I’m ready for a fight,” Kambosos has already told host Ben Damon after weighing in earlier on stage. “Ready for a war.
“It’s going to be amazing.
“I can’t wait.
“Lomachenko bring it on.”
Any final words?
“Victory,” Kambosos had added simply. “I’ve got nothing else to say … victory.”
At which point, his supporters broke into raucous applause.
But after that?
It was crickets.
Which to be fair, was somewhat surprising given the Ukranian superstar is staying in the same Crown Casino building where so much of this week’s build has taken place.
So was he asleep? Stuck in an elevator?
Nobody could say.
Which is exactly how ‘The Matrix’ wanted it you reckon.
Indeed, for so much of this week, Loma has proved that his boxing IQ goes well beyond what takes place inside the ring ropes.
Take, for example, the media day stare down that went so long, people started to leave the room before they broke.
Kambosos explains looooong staredown | 00:51
Honestly.
But Loma?
Afterwards, he simply produced the type of smile that suggested it went exactly as long as he wanted.
Same deal his treatment of the IBF ruling that demands fighters, after the first weigh in is complete, also conduct a second at which neither can weigh more than 10 pounds over the 135-pound limit.
Which for world title bouts, usually happens on the morning of fight night.
But with this Sunday’s hyped card kicking off around 8.30am in Perth — so it can then be beamed into US prime time – that second scales appearance has to happen sometime late on Saturday night.
So Team Kambosos suggested 8pm.
To which, of course, and likely for a giggle, Lomachenko then said 10pm.
Which as wonderfully happens so often in boxing, then kicked off a week of negotiations that eventually saw a 9pm timeslot agreed to.
And now here at the Crown casino on Saturday morning, with Australia’s lightweight star standing shirtless, shadowboxing, and waiting, Loma, you reckon, is at it again.
“15 seconds,” Jim Kambosos shouts.
At which point, Damon calls his fighting son up for another word.
Asked his thoughts on why there might be a delay, Kambosos Jnr replies: “He’s struggling with the weight, that’s why.
“I told you I’ve got nothing more to say.
“I’m here.
“I’m a true professional.”
And then, as if by magic, the legend dubbed “Matrix’ appears from behind the curtain — grinning, and raising his eyebrows as if surprised by the fuss.
“Sorry about that,” he apologises as large sections of the room burst into laughter and cheer.
And the reasons for your worrying delay?
“I don’t know, it’s too early,” he adds, smile widening now.
“I sit in my room, I’ve been waiting 10 hours.”
Officially, Lomachenko weighed in at 61.2kg.
Or slightly heavy than ‘Ferocious’, who was 60.9kg.
Elsewhere, Mexico’s Pedro Guevara was forced to strip naked behind a towel to ensure his own WBC interim super flyweight title against Aussie favourite Andrew Moloney went ahead.
After failing on his first attempt to make weight, a towel was called for – which like Loma, also took some finding – before Guevara stripped off and hit 52kg.
“You have very heavy underwear it seems,” Damon joked.
“Of course,” replied the fighter who, a day earlier, tossed his gloves into the open workout crowd shouting “I am Mexican … I am your friend”.
“I have to retire this guy!” | 07:43
A move Moloney responded to soon after when, after moving around briefly with trainer Angelo Hyder, shouted: “I don’t have any gloves, but I’ll give you the shirt off my back”.
Which, of course, he did.
Just as on Saturday morning he made weight, squared up with his rival and said of the WBC strap he’ll be fighting for: “It looks bloody beautiful”.
Then in the co-main, Aussie Cherneka Johnson also made weight for her own world title showdown against reigning WBA bantamweight queen, Nina Hughes.
Despite making headlines at a previous scales appearance last July, where she wore only body paint up top for another world title showdown, the Aussie this time opted for a bikini and declared the previous stunt a “one and done thing”.
“But when I win it’s going to be special,” she said of a showdown that no less than US promoter Lou DiBella has described as a 50/50 contest.
“Win this belt and then collect the rest.”
Which, coincidentally, is the same game plan for Loma.
That legend who after finally appearing, making weight and promising a “historical bout”, then stood opposite Kambosos and launched into another comically drawn out face off.
How long?
Who knows?
Maybe just as long as Lomachenko wanted …
Source Agencies
