Vasiliy Lomachenko’s dominant performance against George Kambosos Jr. on Sunday in Perth, Australia, solidified his status as one of the best lightweights in the world. The bout ended in the 10.5th round with Lomachenko delivering a pair of body shots that forced a stop to the fight, earning him the IBF lightweight title and a return to championship status after a tumultuous four years.
Kambosos struggled to keep up with Lomachenko’s technical superiority, footwork, and spatial awareness throughout the fight. With Lomachenko outlanding Kambosos 175-40, the Ukrainian boxer showcased his skills and control over the match. Kambosos’ right eye was bloodied by Lomachenko’s left hand, and it was the body work late in the fight that ultimately led to the stoppage, showcasing Lomachenko’s dominance in the ring.
Despite Lomachenko’s impressive win, the 36-year-old faced a callout from WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis during the fight. Davis later deleted the tweet and inflammatory posts about ESPN’s Timothy Bradley, but Lomachenko didn’t decline the challenge in his post-fight press conference. With the 135-pound division featuring champions like Davis, Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson, and the winner of an upcoming fight between Emmanuel Navarette and Denys Berinchyk, there is potential for exciting unification fights in the future.
On the other hand, Kambosos has struggled in the ring since his upset victory over Teofimo Lopez in November 2021. With a 1-3 record since then, including a lackluster win over Maxi Hughes in 2023, Kambosos is facing challenges both inside and outside the ring. Recently ordered to pay former manager Peter Kahn $350,000 in lost wages, Kambosos may also face a similar judgment from his former trainer Javiel Centeno. In order to rebound and regain his footing in the boxing world, Kambosos will need to regroup and make changes in multiple areas before stepping back into the ring.
The boxing community reacted positively to Lomachenko’s impressive win over Kambosos, recognizing his skill and dominance in the lightweight division. With potential matchups against other champions in the division, including unification fights that could determine the undisputed lightweight champion, Lomachenko’s return to top form has sparked interest and anticipation among fans and analysts alike. As Lomachenko looks to solidify his position as one of the best lightweights in the world, the future holds exciting possibilities for the division and the fighters within it.
