Australia’s former boxing unified world champion George Kambosos will look to get back to winning ways on July 22 when he faces Englishman Maxi Hughes in the USA.

Kambosos (20-2) lost his lightweight belts to Devin Haney in back-to-back defeats in Australia last year, with the American subsequently beating former unified champ Vasiliy Lomachenko in a controversial points decision this month.

Now the Australian will take on 33-year-old Hughes (26-5-2) for the IBO belt, in a bout that doubles as an IBF title eliminator.

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The IBO is not one of the four major recognised bodies in boxing – those being the WBA (World Boxing Association), WBC (World Boxing Council), IBF (International Boxing Federation), and WBO (World Boxing Organization).

That’s why the IBO strap, owned by Hughes since 2021, is the only one that Kambosos and Haney haven’t held.

But the bout’s status as an IBF title eliminator gives 29-year-old Kambosos a path back to a major world title. But who that potential world title shot would be against remains clouded. Haney struggled to make weight for his win over Lomachenko, and could well vacate the belts to move up in weight.

The fight, to be held in Shawnee, Oklahoma, presents a strong opportunity for Kambosos to rebound after consecutive defeats.

And the Australian boldly declared Hughes is ‘not elite’ when compared to the champions Kambosos has previously fought.

“I am extremely excited and motivated to make a serious statement against Maxi Hughes in my return fight in the United States, the Mecca of boxing,” Kambosos told DAZN.com.

“Having fought the best lightweight boxers in the world, I now know I have become an even better fighter and have added further artillery and weapons to my overall fight game.

“Maxi Hughes is a good boxer, a tough Englishman, and I’m sure he will try his best, but I know and he knows that his best will not be enough.

“Hughes is not elite, and when you have been in there with elite boxers like I have, you pick up on the mistakes in a boxer like Hughes.

“I will claim his IBO world title and the IBF world title eliminator position on July 22.”

American promoter Lou DiBella praised the Australian for taking a tough opponent as he tries to rebuild his career.

“George insisted on a meaningful fight to begin his comeback. He’s never taken the easy route,” DiBella said.

“Maxi Hughes is a legit top-10 lightweight and a high-risk fight for George coming off two losses against Devin Haney.

“For Maxi, this is the opportunity he’s been fighting for. This is his chance to prove that all of those fights he won as the underdog meant something.”

Watch undefeated Australian superstar Tim Tszyu put his title on the line against Mexican warrior Carlos Ocampo LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 18 June 6PM AEST. ORDER NOW >