Unified lightweight world champion George Kambosos Jr left a TV host "fearing for his life" after breaking his ribs.
Kambosos is set to defend his world titles for the first time against Devin Haney in an undisputed bout next weekend, and has been pushing hard to sell out the 54,000-capacity Marvel Stadium. To do so, he's been participating in a massive media campaign that included a sparring session with 7News host Grant Denyer.
Denyer and Kambosos stepped into the ring for a segment on his show, with the champion boxer generally taking it easy and even allowing the host to punch him. But when Denyer asked to feel what it was like to take a shot from the world champion, he was made keenly aware of why you should be careful what you wish for.
"I thought I was done," he told the Daily Telegraph. "He was going gentle and letting me throw some punches. Then I said to him I wanted to experience what it was like to be hit.
"He gets to six or seven and I realise I can't talk. He was knocking the wind out of me. I couldn't call for help, I couldn't say my safe word. I had no air in my lungs. My face started to turn a funny colour. I went to vomit my toasted sandwich. He came out of his psychosis and he backed off."
The 44-year-old host is one of Australia's most popular personalities, and he said he "feared for his life" after the incident. He is known for his journalistic work, which he parlayed into a career as an influencer and musician as well as competing in Motor Racing from 2005 to 2016.
He's no stranger to suffering severe injuries on the job, either. In 2008, he was hospitalised while participating in a monster truck event where he broke his lower vertebrae in eight places.
Who do you think walks out of Marvel Stadium as undisputed lightweight champion; George Kambosos Jr or Devin Haney? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Denyer returned from the injury after months of rehabilitation and will likely recover quickly from the injuries suffered at the hands of Kambosos as well. He is a two-time winner of Dancing with the Stars, picking up the trophy before his injury in 2006 and again this year.
Kambosos could become the undisputed lightweight champion with a win over Haney, who has signed a multiple-fight deal to face the Aussie a second time already. Just like when he won the belts from Teofimo Lopez last year, Kambosos is the underdog for the bout.
He picked up his titles at the Hulu Theatre in New York's Madison Square Garden back in November after a fight of the year contender where both he and Lopez were floored. He will now get a massive homecoming in front of a major crowd in Melbourne.
