Haney-Kambosos, Wilder-Helenius live results and analysis

  • ESPN Staff Writer
  • Previously a college football writer for The Dallas Morning News
  • University of North Texas graduate

Devin Haney returns to Australia to face George Kambosos Jr. in a rematch of his victory in June to win the undisputed lightweight championship. The fight will be the main event of a card at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne (ESPN/ESPN+, 10:30 p.m. ET with prelims at 8 p.m. on ESPN+).

Haney (28-0, 15 KOs), 23, of San Francisco, dominated Kambosos in their first fight, though two of the scorecards were closer than it appeared to warrant (the judges had it 116-112, 118-110 and 116-112). ESPN scored the bout 118-110 for Haney.

Kambosos (20-1, 10 KOs), 29, of Sydney, scored a big upset when he defeated Teofimo Lopez Jr. by split decision last November in New York. After the loss to Haney, Kambosos quickly exercised his rematch clause.

In Brooklyn, New York, former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder faces former sparring partner Robert Helenius in the main event of a boxing card at Barclays Center (Fox PPV, 9 p.m. ET).

Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs), 36, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is coming off consecutive stoppage losses to Tyson Fury. After taking a year off, Wilder returns with the goal of fighting again for a title in 2023.

Helenius (31-3, 20 KOs), 38, of Stockholm, has won three consecutive fights. His last loss was against Gerald Washington in July 2019.

Follow along as Mike Coppinger and Ben Baby recap the fights as they happen. You can also watch the Haney-Kambosos card on ESPN+.

Fight in progress in Australia: Andrew Moloney vs. Norbelto Jimenez, 10 rounds, bantamweights

Results:

In Australia: Johnson retains title with decision win

It was clearly not an easy night for Cherneka Johnson in the first defense of her IBF junior featherweight title. An accidental clash of heads caused a nasty, blood-spewing, cut on her left forehead in the second round. Her opponent, Susie Ramadan, had two points deducted — one for not listening to the referee and another for hitting Johnson in the back of the head.

None of that mattered, as Johnson took a 97-90, 96-92, 96-91 unanimous decision over Ramadan that included knocking down Ramadan in the fourth round and adjusting to the cut — and her white top looking tie-dyed red by the end of the fight — to win the bout.

Johnson (15-1, 6 KO), ESPN’s No. 4 junior featherweight, dominated the fight despite the cut. The 27-year-old moved well against Ramadan (29-4, 12 KO), mixing up her cadences and her punches to fluster the former WBC bantamweight champion.

It’s a good start for Johnson, who was born in New Zealand but lives in Melbourne, Australia, to set up future intriguing fights down the road. A future fight against 24-year-old Yamileth Mercado, the WBC champion who fights Mariana Juarez later Saturday night in Mexico, could be an option for Johnson if she continues winning. — Michael Rothstein

Still to come:

In Australia:

  • Title fight: Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr., 12 rounds, for Haney’s WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA lightweight titles

  • Jason Moloney vs. Nawaphon Kaikanha, 12 rounds, bantamweights

In New York:

  • Deontay Wilder vs. Robert Helenius, 12 rounds, heavyweights

  • Caleb Plant vs. Anthony Dirrell, 12 rounds, super middleweights

  • Gary Antonio Russell vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez, 12 rounds, bantamweights

  • Frank Sanchez vs. Carlos Negron, 10 rounds, heavyweights

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