Vasiliy Lomachenko is on the cusp of realizing his dream of becoming the undisputed champion, provided he can secure a victory over George Kambosos Jr. for the IBF lightweight title this Sunday in Australia. After a contentious loss to Devin Haney in his last bout, where many felt Lomachenko deserved the win, he now has the opportunity to reclaim a piece of the championship puzzle. According to his promoter, Bob Arum, a win against Kambosos would not only grant Lomachenko a world title but would also set him up for a potential clash with WBC titleholder Shakur Stevenson.
Bob Arum elaborated on the plans:
"I have this other fighter, Shakur Stevenson, who is scheduled to fight in July. If Lomachenko wins, and Shakur wins, then we could set up a fight between them in the fall. This would be a bout every serious boxing fan would look forward to, featuring two of the sport's finest technicians vying for a unified title."
However, Arum acknowledges that Kambosos is no easy opponent, especially since he has proven his mettle by previously dethroning Teofimo Lopez, who had defeated Lomachenko. Plus, Kambosos will have the advantage of fighting on home soil, albeit not from Perth. Arum added:
"Kambosos is very good. He's fighting on home territory, which means something.”
Arum also mentioned the challenge posed by Lomachenko's age, particularly in a sport where the lighter divisions do not favor the aging athlete as much as the heavyweight category might.
"Kambosos is a real threat. He can rise to the occasion for big fights, he's very talented. Lomachenko is super-talented, but his age is a factor to consider,” Arum noted.
If Lomachenko can overcome Kambosos and claim the IBF title, his path could lead to a bout with Stevenson, and potentially, a showdown with the winner of the Emanuel Navarrete-Denys Berinchyk fight for the WBO title on May 18. Looking ahead, Lomachenko could find himself in a blockbuster match against WBA titleholder Gervonta Davis, aiming for the undisputed lightweight championship next year.
Image Credit: Sky Sports