Lomachenko unruffled by brash Kambosos ahead of world title fight

Ukrainian boxing great Vasiliy
Lomachenko brushed aside rival George Kambosos’ taunts of sending him into
“retirement” ahead of their lightweight world title fight on Sunday in Perth.

The 36-year-old Lomachenko (17-3, 11 knockouts) is in the twilight of a
glittering career that boasts three division professional world titles and
two Olympic gold medals.

He’s also regarded as the greatest ever amateur having compiled an incredible
396-1 record.

Lomachenko is a heavy favourite to claim the vacant IBF lightweight world
title, but will have to contend with the brash Australian who will have a
sold-out 15,000 crowd right behind him at an expected febrile RAC Arena.

“When I beat Lomachenko, there’ll be no more road for him to go,” the heavily
tattooed Kambosos told reporters during the week.

“This is retirement for him, I truly believe it.”

Lomachenko was unruffled by former champion Kambosos’ barbs, but remained coy
over his future.

“I have heard this not for the first time. I am not surprised. We will see
what happens,” he said.

“Nobody knows (about his future). I don’t know what will happen after this
fight and how my body will be.”

Both fighters have a point to prove after mixed results in recent years.

Lomachenko failed in his bid to become the undisputed lightweight champion
after a contentious unanimous decision loss to American Devin Haney in Las
Vegas last year.

Kambosos shocked the world in 2021 after stunning Teofimo Lopez at Madison
Square Garden in one of boxing’s biggest upsets.

But he crashed back to earth after consecutive losses to Haney prompted
critics to dub Kambosos a one-hit wonder.

An unconvincing and controversial win over England’s Maxi Hughes last year
did little to alter his reputation.

A motivated Kambosos (21-2, 10 knockouts) believes victory over Lomachenko,
once considered the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, will finally cement
his legacy.

At 5-foot-9 (1.75m), he is two inches taller than his opponent and also
considerably younger at 30 years of age.

Kambosos and Lomachenko were comfortably under the 135-pound limit at
Saturday’s weigh-in ahead of a 12-round showdown that has been a long time
coming.

After plans in 2019 failed to materialise, a slated fight three years later
was scuppered when Lomachenko returned home to his family due to Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine.

The anticipation boiled over during the week when Lomachenko and Kambosos had
to be separated after two stare downs lasted more than three minutes each.

They were particularly intense square offs even in a sport known for its
theatrics.

“This is destiny. This is the path for both of us,” Kambosos said. “The speed
that I have … he’s never seen this kind of speed and explosive power.

“I’ve prepared extremely hard for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned. I
want this bad.”

There are two world title fights on Sunday’s undercard.

Australia’s Andrew Moloney and Mexican Pedro Guevara will duel for the
interim WBC super flyweight belt, while England’s Nina Hughes faces
Australian Cherneka Johnson in the women’s WBA bantamweight battle. (BSS/AFP)