Perth, Australia – Ukrainian boxing legend Vasiliy Lomachenko secured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight world title with a dominant performance against Australia’s George Kambosos in the 11th round in Perth on Sunday. Fighting in front of a sold-out crowd of 15,000 at RAC Arena, Lomachenko outclassed his opponent to claim the 135-pound belt.
Nicknamed “Loma”, the two-time Olympic gold medalist showcased his superior skills throughout the fight, leaving Kambosos battered and bloodied before the referee stopped the contest. Despite Kambosos’ pre-fight taunts of retirement, Lomachenko’s agility and precision in the ring proved too much for the Australian, who suffered his third defeat in 24 professional fights.
Lomachenko, a former World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion, expressed satisfaction with his victory and his return to the title. The 36-year-old fighter hinted at spending more time with his family after reclaiming the IBF lightweight world title.
The undercard of the event saw Mexican Pedro Guevara defeat Australia’s Andrew Moloney in a contentious split decision to win the interim WBC super flyweight belt. Former champion Moloney announced his retirement immediately after the bout. In another match, Australian Cherneka Johnson won the women’s WBA bantamweight belt from England’s Nina Hughes in a closely contested 10-round battle.
The showdown between Lomachenko and Kambosos had been postponed on multiple occasions, with previous fights falling through in 2019 and then again in 2022 due to Lomachenko’s return to Ukraine during the conflict with Russia. The highly anticipated match finally took place in Perth, where Lomachenko’s superior boxing skills and experience proved too much for his Australian opponent.
Despite the enthusiastic support from the home crowd, Kambosos failed to replicate the success of his famous upset victory over Teofimo Lopez in 2021. Lomachenko’s strategic adjustments and precise execution ultimately led to his triumph in the 11th round, solidifying his status as one of the greatest boxers of all time.