GEORGE ‘‘Ferocious’’ Kambosos could not have been more impressive when he made his debut in professional boxing last weekend.
With more than 100 amateur bouts, he was more than ready when he stepped into the ring against Filipino Jayson Macjura, fighting at 63 kilograms catchweight in the lightweight division, after moving up from 61.5kg.
Macjura had enjoyed 15 pro fights, but he quickly looked the amateur.
The heavy-punching Kambosos, 20, from Sylvania and a former Endeavour High student, quickly asserted himself from round one.
Then, in round two, Macjura was hit hard by a left hook he didn’t see coming. And lights out ... fight over. A room full of supporters at the Croatia Club in ‘‘Ferocious’’ T-shirts then celebrated wildly.
Kambosos, who trains out of the Kostya Tszyu Academy at Rockdale, had a celebrated amateur career, winning 85 of 100 amateur fights in Europe, the Eastern Bloc and in the US, before his family made Australia their home.
He was one fight from qualifying for the London Olympics but lost in the final qualifying bout in controversial circumstances. He has been sparring with the likes of Anthony Mundine, Will Tomlinson and Joel Brunker leading up to his pro debut. Another Tszyu Academy boxer, Joshua Diab, also won by knockout on the night.