Luke Campbell trainer confident- “may even knock out” Lomachenko

It’s always easier for someone who’s not stepping through the ring ropes to do the talking. And, the latest example is English lightweight contender Luke Campbell’s trainer publicly stating what his fighter may be able to do against world champ Vasily Lomachenko at the end of the month.

In a lengthy interview with Sky Sports, Shane McGuigan, who will be in the former Olympic champion and now number one WBC lightweight contender Campbell’s corner, wasn’t bashful about talking about what his fighter plans to do against one of the most dominant fighters in boxing:

"We have to dent @VasylLomachenko with power" – @Luke11Campbell banking on inflicting damage

Book here: https://t.co/qJRG7eIv46

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) August 19, 2019

McGuigan said specifically about their tactics to Sky Sports:

“Luke is not a come-forward pressure fighter. We have to take it out of the judges’ hands. When we win rounds we have to win them with a big margin. We have to dent him with power, and Luke definitely has the power to dent him.”

McGuigan continued, “Jorge Linares put [Lomachenko] on his backside. Although it was a flash knock-down, he still stunned him. [Lomachenko] has been hurt once or twice. Salido hurt him throughout the fight and a few people caused him [problems].  We’ve got as many assets as anyone [Lomachenko] has faced.”

“How do you negate his speed, ability and technical prowess? We have the size advantage, the power advantage. No, we’re not as quick or agile but we can take that away with range and timing.

“I am fully confident we have the ability to beat him and even knock him out.” 

That last part seems a stretch despite Campbell having 16 KOs in his 20 pro wins.

Lomachenko is set to put his WBA and WBO titles on a line August 31st in London and the WBC will crown the winner of this fight as their Champion as well. And at 13 – 1, Lomachenko will be making the third defense of his lightweight belts and is regarded by many as the “best pound-for-pound fighter” in the world.

We previously wrote that his last opponent, Anthony Crolla, whom Lomachenko knocked out in the fourth round (above) in Los Angeles in April, stated in another recent interview that Lomachenko “is close unbeatable.” This is because of his defensive style, and combination of quick hands and power.

Still McGuigan, again on behalf of Campbell, thinks that they have a plan similar to the second fight in Lomachenko’s pro career, when he was beaten by controversial split decision by Orlando Salido. In that fight five years ago, Salido shook Lomachenko a couple of times, even scoring a flash knockdown, and he aggressively backed him around the ring several rounds in the fight.

However, Lomachenko has won 12 fights since then, including World Titles in three different divisions. And, it’s fair to say, that no one has really come close to beating him in the last four years of his title defenses.

Soon, all the talking, including by those not throwing or taking punches, will be stopping. And then, we’ll see if Campbell has an effective plan and can execute. Or, if Lomachenko will dominate and possibly knockout, yet another contender to his titles.