Vasily Lomachenko put on a classic performance on Sunday in Perth, Australia and became champion once again, proving that he is still among the sport’s elite.
Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KO) has undoubtedly been one of the best boxers in the world since June 2014, when he became champion in only his third professional fight. Since his dominant performance against Gary Russell Jr. after Sunday’s 11th-round TKO victory over George Kambosos Jr. and winning the vacant IBF lightweight title, Lomachenko remains otherworldly.
The stoppage win over Kambosos – Lomchenko’s first win since June 2021 – was a reminder of the Ukrainian’s greatness at the age of 36. This is Kambosos’ third loss, but his previous two losses came by decision to Devin Haney. Kambosos beats Teofimo Lopez, ESPN’s 2021 Upset of the Year.
Lomachenko became the first player to complete the Australian, and he did it in fashion. He broke Kambosos with a string of pointed lefts, bleeding his right eye. Lomachneko finally took him down with a left hand to the body, followed by a violent attack that forced the corner to throw in the towel.
“He is a legend of the sport,” Kambosos said. “…He’s one of the best fighters in history.”
This is not hyperbole, of course. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is a future Hall of Famer, and after the disappointment of a contentious loss to Haney a year ago, Lomachenko is gaining momentum again.
He may find his next opponent in a week. On Saturday in San Diego, Emanuel Navarrete will fight Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight title.
Navarrete is a large favorite for the title of champion of four divisions, and Top Rank wants to match the Mexican Lomachenko this year. It’s a fascinating clash of styles. Navarrete is a 50-foot windstorm with a 72-inch reach.
Lomachenko proved Sunday that he still has the reflexes to shoot through holes when they appear. He can still evoke memories of No Mas-Chenko, the man who, when he was the pound-for-pound king, made opponent after opponent quit. And with the title wrapped around his waist, he seems primed for one last run at the top of the sport.
Kambosos’ career now hangs in the balance; what’s next for him?
Kambosos was fully aware of the enormous stakes when he entered the ring to fight pound-for-pound superstar Lomachenko.
He knew victory would cement his legacy as an Australian boxing icon, a world champion who would pull off not one but two of the most stunning upsets of his era against a pair of generational fighters. Kambosos argued ad nauseum that such an achievement would be enough to earn him a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on only five of his compatriots. A victory would also open the door to further championship fights at 135 pounds.
However, Kambosos also knew that a loss to Lomachenko would mean the end of his international boxing career. On Sunday afternoon, after 11 rounds of humiliation on home soil, Kambosos left the ring dejected, knowing his career was hanging in the balance.
For Kambosos, Sunday’s defeat to Lomachenko means he will fall further down the lightweight hierarchy, dangerously on the brink of irrelevance not only in the division but also in the world of boxing. It is unlikely that Kambosos will fight for another world title, but he does not regret taking the fight.
“I gave it my all. I had the best preparation. I gave my all during the training camp and unfortunately it wasn’t enough today, but it is what it is. I gave it my all. I fought my best. You are failing.” Kambosos told ESPN. “He’s a real champion. He is a legend of the sport and I have the utmost respect for him. I never showed it. I always showed him respect and we knew what we would face.”
Kambosos’ victory over Lopez will never be taken from him, but last Sunday’s defeat – the third in four fights – proved that the winter night at Madison Square Garden was an anomaly of the highest order.
Since then, the Australian has not resembled a world champion-caliber player. Not only has he been the underdog in each of his last four fights, but he has also been unable to solve problems in the ring and has shown no signs of changing the energetic when things are not going in his favor.
Kambosos’ promoter, Lou DiBella, spoke earlier this week about the possibility of his fighter moving up to junior welterweight for a rematch with Lopez. The only caveat was that he had to show that he remained a world-class player. His performance against Lomachenko did nothing of the sort. Kambosos was outclassed from the opening bell until Lomachenko landed a flurry of punches, forcing the corner to wave the white flag.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.
This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.
In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.
“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.
“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.
Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.
Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.
Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.
However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.
In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.
It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.
WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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