Sylvania boxer and new father George Kambosos Jnr has won his latest fight moving to an unblemished record of 13-0.
Kambosos Jnr, 24, is currently ranked no.7 on the WBA lightweight rankings and last night stopped Thai fighter Krai Setthaphon (25-3) in the ninth round.
The victory at Melbourne Pavilion sees him take another step towards his dream of winning a world title.
“This guy was a good test, obviously I have had harder fights but you need these fights.”
Another world-ranked fighter Masayoshi Nakatani, no.7 on the WBC lightweight rankings, also fought Setthaphon this year but was unable to knock him out.
“So for me to go in there and literally pick the moment when I wanted to stop him, it was a good little scout,” he said. “I wanted to knock this guy out and make a statement.”
He said he stuck to his game plan and wore Setthaphon down before going in for the kill. He dropped Setthaphon in the eight round and three times in the ninth.
“Not every day you get to fight the no.1 in Australia and no.7 in the world – he was looking for that lucky shot to knock me out. He came with nothing to lose.
“So I was smart and used my IQ and broke him down and come round 7, 8, 9, when I did put the speed on, I dropped him.”
By winning the fight Kambosos Jnr retains the WBA Oceania Lightweight title and also wins the IBF Pan Pacific title.
Kambosos Jnr said his team wanted a top-five-ranked fighter in his next fight and he was willing to move up or down a weight class to get that fight.
He said his name had been mentioned alongside some big names in other divisions.
“I could move down or move up – I have the type of body that could fluctuate,” he said.
"I’m open to take on anyone. But these guys have got to be above me – I won’t fight anyone outside the rankings.”
He said he was rapt with the response of his first fight in Melbourne, with a good crowd getting behind him.
“The Melbourne crowd was amazing. They came out in full force especially the Greeks.”
Kambosos Jnr, who recently had his first child, said he was back to his hotel room not long after the fight to see his little daughter.
“I think people wanted to know if I had changed [after having my daughter], but if anything I’m even more focused now. He got me at the worst possible time.”
Kambosos Jnr said he would be back training at his gym in Gymea in no time as he pursues his dream of becoming a world champion.
