Boxing
The Matrix Rebirth: Vasily Lomachenko Devours George Kambosos Jr. for the IBF lightweight belt
Vasily Lomachenko demolishes George Kambosos Jr. and wins the vacant IBF lightweight title (Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
George Kambosos Jr. he thought he would be staring at Vasily Lomachenko all week. It’s a pity his eyes didn’t shoot laser beams, because that was the only way the average Australian could defeat the former lightweight world champion.
Lomachenko had been considering retirement, but his 11th-round stoppage over Kambosos in the fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title before scoring a record of 14,147 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, may cause “The Matrix” to think differently.
Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KO) was simply brilliant, capping off a dominant performance at 2:49 of the 11th after knocking down the losing Kambosos (21-3, 10 KO) twice on Sunday morning in Australia.
Lomachenko, the ring’s No. 1 lightweight, regained his IBF belt after losing it to Teofimo Lopez Jr. in 2020.
At age 36, there were some doubts that the future Hall of Famer’s skills would erode. This was not the case when they exposed the overrated Kambosos for what he is.
“Today it looked like a knockout, not a ‘No-Mas-Chenko,’” Lomachenko said. But you know, we trained difficult for this moment. I want to thank my opponent. He is a powerful man and a real warrior.
“My plan was to adapt to my opponent. That’s what I did during the fight. I knew I had to finish powerful. And for the last three rounds I’ve been trying to find his body.
At the time of the stoppage, Lomachenko led 99-91 on judges Steve Gray and Michiaka Somey’s scorecards and 98-92 on judge Benoit Roussel’s scorecard.
The defeat marked the third loss in his last four fights for Kambosos, who many believe also lost to Maxi Hughes last July in Shawnee, Oklahoma, after losing back-to-back to Devin Haney, missing out on the undisputed lightweight title and rematch.
Since upsetting Lopez for the undisputed lightweight title in November 2021, Kambosos has been unable to capture the same magic. He went through managerial and camp changes, lost a lawsuit with his former manager Peter Kahn, and after breaking up with previous coach Javiel Centeno, he went through different coaches.
Lomachenko completely surprised Kambosos in the first round. It was a harbinger of what was to come. He danced around the confined Kambosos, which moved in a straight line and were an uncomplicated target to shoot down as he got closer. As the second closed, Lomachenko nailed Kambosos with a straight left to the face, followed by a left-right combination that sent Kambosos stumbling back into the ropes.
Every time Kambosos tried to play down the right wing, Lomachenko was unable to get hit, he was out of reach. With 1:05 left in the third period, referee Katsuhiko Nakamura, whom Team Kambosos was trying to replace, warned Kambosos about the boundary line at the waist.
The players ended the third period with a quick exchange, after which Kambosos shouted at his Ukrainian opponent and Nakamura had to push him back to the corner.
With 1:48 left in the fourth quarter, Kambosos hit Lomachenko on the right side, but The Matrix supported Kambosos. With 1:13 left in the round, Loma hit Kambosos with a left to the body, setting up a pretty left to the head with 1:07 left in the round.
Vasily Lomachenko celebrates after stopping defeated George Kambosos Jr in the 11th round. and winning the vacant IBF lightweight title (photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
As the rounds went on, Kambosos became more and more surprised. He didn’t know what to do with Lomachenko, who kept stepping on Kambosos’ left side, forcing the Australian with his dominant hand to reach further. With 17 left in the fifth set, Lomachenko sent an off-balance Kambosos down the left wing, which was rightly considered a slip.
After five rounds, Lomachenko had a 73-16 advantage. He completely outclassed the pedestrian Kambosos, who has proven in his last four fights that he is capable of one-punching.
With 1:34 left in the seventh set, Kambosos slid a right to the body. It was the only real salvo he managed to land. About 30 seconds later, Loma put Kambosos in the corner. With 46 seconds left in the round, Lomachenko hit Kambosos with a left to the body. He systematically defeated the Australian.
Kambosos, his right eye swollen, returned to his corner with his head down.
In the first eight minutes, Lomachenko returned to swinging and attacking Kambosos on the left. Kambosos had no counterattack to stop it. Loma was crushing Kambosos’ face. He had to attend to a cut on his right eyelid.
LOMA IS WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN.
LOMA IS WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN.
LOMA IS WORLD CHAMPION AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/IZDYaV7bhV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 12, 2024
In the ninth round, Lomachenko supported Kambosos. The stiff Kambosos was again unable to counteract this. With blood streaming down the right side of his face, Kambosos, who had shown great courage in his batting, was plowed by a tiny left as the ninth ended.
In the 10th, Lomachenko nailed Kambosos in the face with right after right, hitting him with his jab at will, then changing levels and hitting Kambosos with a tiny right to the jaw.
At the beginning of the 11th round, Lomachenko defeated Kambosos 157-38. With 31 seconds left in the 11th, Lomachenko, apparently having all the time in the world, curled up and drove his left into Kambosos’ midsection, causing Kambosos to kneel in a delayed move.
Kambosos got up at eight, there wasn’t much left. The Ukrainian closed it out at 2:49 of the 11th with two kicking shots to the body. Jim Kambosos, father of George Kambosos Jr. working the corner, he threw in the towel, luckily, ending the matter.
“I have never run in my boxing career,” Lomachenko said. “I always get into fights. Now I want to go home, spend time with my family, and when I get some rest, we can talk about my future.
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