Both Lomachenko And Kambosos Know It’s Likely Last Title Shot

Thursday afternoon in Australia, the final press conference for the upcoming vacant IBF lightweight title bout between former unified 135 lb. champs Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos took place. And both fighters know this could be their last realistic chance at winning a world title.

The Ukrainian star, 17-3, 11 KOs, will battle the home country favourite in Kambosos, 21-2, 10 KOs, on Sunday afternoon at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The bout will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN late night Saturday night.

Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Met With Media Before Meeting for the Vacant IBF Title

It’s getting wild in the West 🇦🇺 #LomaKambosos | MAY 11 | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/wsZqJTOWzf

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 9, 2024

Future Hall of Famer Wants a Title Back

Lomachenko, a former three-division world champ and one of the top pound-for-pound fighters of the last 10 years,  hopes to not only overcome his Australian opponent but also hold off “father time” a little while longer.” This, as “he has a chance” to once again, become a two-time lightweight world title holder.

“I’ve been in this sport for a long time,” Lomachenko said Thursday. “We are two professionals. We know boxing. We know strategy. It will be very, very interesting for both. It will be very, very interesting for all fans of boxing. Good luck. Good luck to both.”

Read More: Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr.: How to Stream, Betting Odds and Fight Card

 “We have a fight. We prepared very hard. And like I said, it will be very interesting,” he continued. “I’m just looking forward to the IBF title. I need to take my title, and then after that, I can think about my future.” 

The Australian Must Take Advantage of This Chance

Meanwhile, the former IBF/WBA/WBO champ Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs), is younger and is looking to once again stake his claim as the sport’s top 135-pounder. Kambosos lost his titles and a rematch, both in Australia in 2022, to Devin Haney.

But now, he also has the chance at redemption, saying Thursday,

“We were slated to possibly fight in 2019 when the legendary Hall of Famer Bob Arum said that a young guy from Australia called George Kambosos could come up against the then-king Lomachenko. Things obviously did not happen. Then I become the champion and Lomachenko was chasing me. We were very close. But it wasn’t meant to be. But, third time is lucky, and Sunday is when we do our battle.”

Read More: George Kambosos Gets Disputed Win Over Hughes

 “I’m extremely confident. I bring that confidence from my preparation. I’ve had a tremendous training camp. The confidence is higher than ever. When I beat Lomachenko, there will be no more road for him to go. This is retirement for him.”

Kambosos and Lomachenko do have in common that Haney also beat Loma in a PPV main event last Spring in Las Vegas. However, that fight was much closer than Haney’s two dominations of the Australian, previously.

So, it’s a classic example that a former world champ becomes very relevant in the lightweight division again on Saturday night (USA time).

On the Undercard

Just before the main event, WBA bantamweight world champion Nina Hughes of Great Britain, 6-0, 2 KOs, makes her second world title defence against former world champion and Australian Cherneka Johnson, 15-2, 6 KOs.

And, the ESPN broadcast kicks off with another Aussie former world champ, Andrew Moloney 26-3, 16 KOs, who battles Mexican former world champion Pedro Guevara, 41-4-1, 22 KOs, for the vacant WBC interim junior bantamweight championship.