GEORGE KAMBOSOS JR won the surprise of the year, beating Teofimo Lopez to be the new unified lightweight champion.
28-year-old Australian won by split decision on judges scores 115-111 and 113-114.
After outpointing Teofimo Lozano
, George Kambosos Jr. is now the new unified lightweight champion
Lopez, 24, entered the fight in New York sporting a perfect record (16-0), having defeated Vasyl Lomachenko (Ukraine) in his last bout.
He predicted that he would slay Kambosos Jr. in the opening round of what was his first defense of his WBA and WBO titles.
After being knocked down by a counter right punch, it was the American who was almost eliminated in round 1.
Kambosos Jr. beat Lee Selby, the Welsh ace, on points last year and continued to chip away at Brooklyn's native, using his jab to great advantage.
Lopez continued to fight with his challenger and a hand right dropped Kambosos Jr. in the tenth round.
Ferocious was able to withstand the assault after getting back on his feet and firing back. Lopez was then cut in round two to regain control of the bout.
, Kambosos Jr stunned Lopez in round one.
He was rewarded with the highest honor at the conclusion of the 12-round war, when he gave the performance of his life.
After his amazing victory, he said: "I believed that I could do it, and I supported myself."
"I repeated it over and over: You may not believe it, however I believe in it." Look at me now. All the jewels are mine.
"I am not the king. I'm the Emperor because I go to every country and take them out one at a time."
Lopez was stunned at the outcome and claimed that he had won the fight. This led to his fans cheering him on.
He stated that "He's a helluva fighter, but I won tonight. Everyone knows that."
"The referee raised his hand. I won tonight, no matter what anyone says. I would like to thank everyone who came out tonight. I am not a loser. I take my wins as seriously as I take my losses.
"At the end, I'm a champion. I did what I had the ability to do and went out there and tried my best. I don't care about what anyone says. I'm as real as they come. This is the takeover man. We don't stop coming, we just keep going."
Before you add: "At night's end, I scored it 11-2-10-2."
