George Kambosos Jr. has firmly shut down any chance of facing Manny Pacquiao on the December 11 card featuring Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The Australian stated flatly that no amount of money could convince him to trade punches with his longtime mentor.
Kambosos is currently targeting a bout with Gervonta Davis after the two traded messages on X. That route provides him a massive payday without having to compromise his loyalty to the legend who helped shape his rise.
“Shut ya mouth! I’d never fight Manny, ever, ever, ever no matter how much they offered me,” Kambosos posted on X to silence fan speculation. “He did so much for me in my career and gave me the best experience for my own career over the 3 world championship campaigns I did alongside him. Manny not just a legend but an all time great imo.”
His response squashes fan chatter rather than an active contract proposal. No formal talks have been reported, and Pacquiao’s spot on the December card is still up in the air.
Looking at the Davis chatter explains a lot about his stance. Taking on Davis gives Kambosos a direct path to a marquee event against an elite, active champion, even if social media talk doesn’t guarantee a signed deal. Walking that path lets him keep his bond with Pacquiao completely solid.
Sharing a ring with Pacquiao carries tricky optics. Defeating a 47-year-old icon does little to silence skeptics, leaving Kambosos with a decent check but minimal credit toward proving he can conquer modern prime contenders.
A loss would prove disastrous. Dropping a bout to someone pushing 50 could wreck his drawing power overnight, handing Pacquiao the glory while leaving Kambosos in career limbo.
Davis presents serious danger, yet falling to a knockout puncher of that caliber carries far less stigma. On top of that, pulling off an upset against Davis would launch him right back to the top of the sport.
Kambosos cites loyalty for turning away from Pacquiao, leaving zero wiggle room for promoters. With Davis offering an enticing alternative, shifting his focus makes complete sense financially, competitively, and personally.