George Kambosos Jr vs Maxi Hughes – Results & Post-Fight Report

George Kambosos Jr became the new IBO lightweight champion at the Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma, as he took a contentious majority decision win against Maxi Hughes.

Kambosos had briefly reigned as unified world champion after upsetting Teofimo Lopez in 2021, but shipped the belts in back-to-back points losses to Devin Haney in his native Australia, while Hughes was enjoying an Indian summer to his career, on a run of seven straight wins, and aiming to add Kambosos to his list of upset wins.

The first two rounds were studious ones, with Hughes (26-6-2, KO5) coming to life in the third, landing with some sharp uppercuts and a body shot. The Englishman’s counter punching was causing Kambosos (21-2, KO10) problems, and he continued his sharp start into the fifth, with his progress only checked by a clash of head that caused a big cut on his left eye. The Aussie was aware of the urgency, and had a much better seventh, and a round later his jab honed in on the Hughes cut. By the championship rounds it looked as though the challenger needed a strong finish, but Hughes kept connecting and frustrating Kambosos, and by the final frame, it looked as though Hughes had done enough to retain his title.

It wasn’t to be though, as one judge inexplicably scored the contest 117-111 in Kambosos’ favour, and a 115-113 tally confirmed him as the winner, with a 114-114 card made redundant.

Keyshawn Davis (9-0, KO6) banked ten rounds for the first time, as he dropped Francesco Patera (28-4, KO10) in the eighth on the way to a wide points win. Davis defended his WBA USA, and WBO Intercontinental lightweight titles by two scores of 100-89, and a third at 99-90.

Giovani Santillan (31-0, KO16) stayed undefeated, but had to work hard to take a ten round decision at welterweight against Erick Bone (27-7, KO14). Scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-92 were wider than the fight suggested.

Stephan Shaw (18-2, KO13) suffered an upset defeat on the card, as he was stopped in six rounds at heavyweight against Joseph Goodall (10-1-1, KO9). Shaw, who took Efe Ajagba the ten round distance in his most recent fight was decked in the sixth and never recovered, and Goodall took an impressive scalp. Also at heavyweight, Hemi Ahio (21-1, KO16) halted Amron Sands (12-3, KO9) in six, and Jeremiah Milton (10-0, KO7) took out Willie Harvey (4-3-2, KO3) in the fourth.

Troy Isley (10-0, KO4) stayed unbeaten, taking a 79-73 win across the board against Antonio Todd (14-9, KO8) at middleweight.