Walkout disagreement rocks Kambosos-Lomachenko lightweight world title fight build-up

George Kambosos’ manager is pushing to take a dispute between the two camps behind closed doors ahead of Sunday’s fight.

George Kambosos Jr fights Vasiliy Lomachenko in another lightweight blockbuster. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

A walkout drama has hit lightweight world title blockbuster between Aussie George Kambosos Jr and boxing icon Vasiliy Lomachenko, with the camps disagreeing over who should walk second on fight day.

As the hometown hero, the former unified lightweight world champion, and the reigning IBO titleholder, Kambosos Jr’s team is adamant he should be given the honour of walking second.

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Lomachenko’s camp believes their fighter has achieved more in the sport and is the bigger name, so should be considered the A-side.

As it stands, Lomachenko will walk to the ring second on Sunday afternoon at Perth’s RAC Arena before their clash for Kambosos Jr’s IBO title and the vacant IBF belt.

Jim and George Kambosos arrive in Perth last week. Picture: MEGA/GC Images

However, Kambosos Jr’s team is pushing for a weigh-in day coin toss to determine the walkout order.

“We’re still going over the process of who walks first, and right now, they’re adamant Lomachenko will walk second, and George will walk first,” Kambosos Jr’s dad and manager, Jim, told this masthead. “I’m trying not to get hung up on it, because we’re here to win a fight, but they say Lomachenko is the bigger name.

“So, right now, George is the B-side and they’ve made their decision, but my job is to make sure our argument is put forward and I’m pushing for a coin toss behind the scenes after the weigh-ins.”

Lomachenko is considered a modern day boxing great, but Jim believes his son’s position as the IBO world champion should count for something.

“My argument is I think George has achieved more,” he said. “Lomachenko’s great, but George Kambosos was the undisputed champion of the world.

“Lomachenko never got that opportunity.

“Kambosos currently holds a belt (the secondary IBO title), Lomachenko doesn’t hold anything.

“If you take away the names, the A-side is George.”

Kambosos holds the IBO lightweight world title – a secondary belt. Picture: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Lomachenko previously held the WBA, WBC and WBO lightweight world titles, but was toppled by Teofimo Lopez in 2020.

Kambosos Jr then caused one of Australian boxing’s biggest upsets when he scored a thrilling split decision win over Lopez to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring world titles in 2021.

The Sydneysider relinquished the titles in a pair of decision losses to Devin Haney, before Haney scored a controversial decision win over Lomachenko last year.

Kambosos Jr bounced back with a decision win over Englishman Maxi Hughes for the IBO belt last July before landing another career-defining bout against ‘The Matrix’ this weekend.

Many boxing insiders believe Lomachenko (R) beat Devin Haney (L) a year ago. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Kambosos Jr and Lomachenko both jetted into Perth last week, and have been at loggerheads over a number of issues ahead of the fight.

“The ring walks and who walks first and who walks second is just one of three dramas going on at the moment,” Jim Kambosos said. “I can’t elaborate on those, but they’re very serious.

“It’s been going on for six days, ever since Lomachenko landed.

“But, that’s boxing, I’ve seen it all before at this level – it’s just all games.”

Originally published as Walkout disagreement rocks Kambosos-Lomachenko lightweight world title fight build-up