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Former unified world lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10 KOs) is aware of the task at hand when he steps into the ring on May 12 in Perth, Australia, as he continues his preparations to face one of the most decorated fighters this generation in Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs).
The decorated veteran Lomachenko will step into the ring in Perth almost a year from the last time he fought in a narrow unanimous defeat to Devin Haney.
Despite his respect for the Ukrainian, Kambosos is confident his boxing style will blend well with Loamchenko’s and elevate him back to the higher echelons of the division.
“This is the guy [Lomachenko] who was formerly the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the world, a three-division world champion, a two-time Olympic gold medallist,” Kambosos told Sky Sports. “So we understand his accolades, we respect him, of course, with what he’s done and outside of boxing and he’s a very good figure for sport.
“But we respect what we’ve been able to do, too. Styles make fights. The way we both bring that action, it’s gonna be something special. This is going to be a memorable fight.
“As a man, person, and fighter, you can’t fault the guy. But with all that respect, when it comes down to May 12, that respect is out the window, and I’m coming to take his head off, but I’m sure he’s going to come and do the same thing to me.”
Kambosos’s defining moment came in November 2021, upsetting the odds to relieve Teofimo Lopez of his unified WBO, WBA and WBO world lightweight titles at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.
The Australian’s reign as champion turned out to be brief. The following year, he lost back-to-back points defeats to Haney and returned for the first time last July, claiming a disputed points win against Rossington’s Maxi Hughes.
Despite the controversial scoring in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Kambosos claimed not only the IBO title but he was moved into a position to challenge for the vacant IBF title previously held by Haney following the American’s move to 140 pounds.
Kambosos believes victory over Lomachenko will leave him in a prime position to unify against the likes of Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson while returning him to the position he found himself in before his defeats to Haney.
“A win would put me back to the king of the lightweights,” said Kambosos. “I was there not so long ago. Devin Haney was the last guy there; he’s vacated, so if we go back in history, I’m one of the last lightweights who was king.
“It would push me back into that position. It puts me back to where I want to be and where I’m motivated. I’m 30 years of age. My road continues, my opportunities for bigger fights with the guys like Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson continues, and that’s what I want, the biggest fights.”
Lomachenko is arguably declining at 36. Kambosos understands that if he is unable to overcome the aging Ukrainian, his own ambitions come into question regarding his positioning within the lightweight division.
“If I can’t get over a guy like Lomachenko then that opportunity [to return to the top of the 135-pound division] really does not present itself anymore,” Kambosos admitted. “I know what’s at risk. I know what’s at stake for this kind of fight, but that is what is motivating me more and more.
“The bigger the task, the bigger the fight, the better Kambosos will come to the fore and be prepared – so we know what we have to do.”