George Kambosos demolished by Vasiliy Lomachenko in brutal boxing ‘beatdown’
George Kambosos’ world title fight turned into a brutal beatdown as a boxing icon completely smashed him and left his career at a crossroads.
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George Kambosos Jr’s boxing career is all but over after the Aussie warrior was thoroughly outclassed by Vasiliy Lomachenko, who claimed victory via TKO in Perth on Sunday.
Despite an even opening three minutes, Lomachenko won every single round and hammered Kambosos with his left hand in particular and the former world champion had no answer.
Kambosos couldn’t match Lomachenko’s hand speed and power, and when Lomachenko dropped him with heavy body shots a minute into the 11th round, his corner threw in the towel.
Boxing: Lomachenko v Kambosos IBF Lightweight World Title Fight | MON 12 MAY 12PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Kambosos landed 40 punches in the entire fight, while 105 of the 175 total punches landed by Lomachenko were power punches.
Lomachenko won the IBO and vacant IBF lightweight world titles and will turn his attention to bigger names in world boxing such as Gervonta Davis.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian won two Olympic gold medals in one of the most successful amateur careers ever, and he still has a bit left in the tank at professional level.
Kambosos (21-3, 10KOs) defeated Maxi Hughes last year but is at a crossroads after two losses to Devin Haney followed his stunning world title win over Teofimo Lopez in 2021.
“I want to appreciate my opponent, George, they’re a team, they’re a top team,” Lomachenko said in the ring.
“And of course, I want to say a big, big thank you to my team.
“Today I’m again world champion. This world title is for my father.
“He trained me, he built me, and he deserves it. This is for my father.
“I want to come home to my family and spend time with my family. Thank you.”
Kambosos said: “Oh man, I’m a tough fighter, I’m a tough Aussie bastard. We don’t want to take easy fights.
“This man is one of the best of all-time, in history, we tried our best. We started really good early.
“We stuck to the game plan, but that Matrix started downloading things, we tried our best but he deserves that belt. I gave my all, that’s all I can do. That’s the kind of fighter I am.
“We’ll be back. It’s another step in the journey of Kambosos.”
It was a mixed day for the Australians with Cherneka Johnson winning her title in a controversial announcement, but Andrew Moloney lost in a decision labelled “the great Australian robbery”.
Kambosos vs Lomachenko round updates
Round 1: The main event is underway. A tense and close first round. Kambosos landed seven body shots and Lomachenko landed seven head shots.
Ben Damon said on Main Event: “Kambosos is firing. Lomachenko is hunting.”
Round 2: Lomachenko looked a class above in the second round and snuck through the defence of Kambosos several times including with a right hook.
Round 3: Both boxers are swinging hard early in this fight and connected hard in the third round. Kambosos is using body shots effectively and is trying to avoid Lomachenko’s lethal shots to the head.
Round 4: Lomachenko has taken control of the fight and is using his left hand in particular to his advantage.
Damon said in commentary: “A big shot got through. Kambosos has that chin tested. Lomachenko has stepped it up.”
Round 5: This is turning into a bit of a clinic for Kambosos. He is well ahead on the scorecards and is delivering power shots at will.
“He’s just not doing enough,” Shawn Porter said of Kambosos.
Round 6: Kambosos had a brief moment that got the Perth crowd behind him and their heads bumped causing some swelling around Lomachenko’s eye. The Ukrainian is dominating.
Rd 6: Loma, 10-9. Kambosos had maybe his best round and still didn't win it. 6-0 Loma #boxing#LomaKambosos
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) May 12, 2024
Round 7: Lomachenko is treating Kambosos like a punching bag, hammering the Aussie with his left hand as he dances around the ring. Kambosos stood on his opponent’s feet and fell over, briefly finding himself on the canvas.
“The movement of Lomachenko makes him fall over his feet,” Damon said.
A cut has opened under Kambosos’ right eyebrow.
Round 8: Rinse and repeat, Lomachenko is peppering Kambosos with countless blows and is winning every round.
“The former champion of the world George Kambosos is now coated in blood,” Damon said.
Porter said: “Right now Kambosos has zero respect coming from Lomachenko.”
Round 9: Kambosos is copping punch after punch from a ruthless and clinical Lomachenko, who is hammering the Aussie from all angles. Can he last three more rounds?
Round 10: Lomachenko lands some punches on the face of Kambosos, who is now bleeding heavily from his cut. The Aussie is showing toughness but he’s lost every round.
Round 11: Lomachenko dropped Kambosos twice in the 11th round with heavy body shots.
The first time, Kambosos went down on his haunches and the fight was allowed to continue.
But moments later, Kambosos could take no more and his corner threw in the towel.
Damon said: “In the end, it’s been a beatdown.”
1.56pm – Winner announcement descends into farce
Australia’s Cherneka Johnson has defeated Nina Hughes via majority decision to claim the WBA bantamweight world title.
It was an even contest that went to the judges scorecards and Shawn Porter thought Johnson had done enough to get the win.
But when ringside announcer ‘Lieutenant’ Dan Hennessey read out the scores 95-95, 96-94, 98-92, he bellowed the fatal “and still”, before announcing Hughes as the winner.
But seconds later, Hennessey called the fighters back to centre ring, read out the exact same scores again, but this time declared Johnson the winner.
There had clearly been a mix up, and it appeared a classic case similar to the iconic Australia’s Next Top Model winner’s announcement in 2010. If you know, you know.
“I’m not the judges but I definitely feel I won this fight,” Johnson said.
Hughes was filthy: “I just don’t get it. How can they announce I won and then change the scores?
“I felt I dominated early. She won a few of the later rounds but I felt I won it comfortably.
“It’s a joke. I feel like I’ve been robbed. It’s gotta be a rematch.”
Hughes’ promoter Lou DiBella fumed: “I think the announcement that’s wrong shouldn’t happen. It was a very close fight.
“I’m shocked. It’s unfair to suffer through that. To think you’ve won and celebrate and have a decision turned over, that’s screwed up.”
Boxing reporter Dan Rafael wrote on X: “The ring announcer sucks. Re-read cards and Johnson won the fight and title. He f***ed up reading the cards for Moloney-Guevara also. What a joke.”
Main Event’s Kath Loughnan summed it up: “What on earth is going on inside RAC Arena?”
Scores for Hughes v Johnson. Bit going on here #LomaKambosospic.twitter.com/e4GhQ3XBvH
— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) May 12, 2024
1.15pm – Moloney robbed on shocking scorecards
Andrew Moloney has been robbed of the interim WBC super flyweight world title after the judges handed a stunning split decision victory to Mexican Pedro Guevara.
Moloney took control with a superb combination in the third round, before Guevara began to work his way back into the fight late in the fifth round.
“This is so far a vintage performance by Andrew Moloney against a world class opponent,” Main Event’s Ben Damon said in commentary midway through the fight.
It appeared Moloney had built a lead on the scorecards early and had done more than enough to hold on despite Guevara working his way into the fight in the last six rounds.
But the judges sensationally awarded Guevara victory via split decision 115-113, 113-116, 115-113.
Moloney celebrated on the ropes before the scores were read out and former world champion Shawn Porter said he scored 10 of the 12 rounds in Moloney’s favour.
An absolutely filthy Moloney blasted the decision, explaining he believed he dominated the fight. He announced his retirement from boxing on the spot in a bombshell move.
“I felt in total control,” he said.
“I did what I had to do in there to get through the rounds and win.
“I don’t want to make excuses but I went into this fight with a torn bicep so I couldn’t throw the left hook unless I needed to. But I didn’t feel like I needed to throw it because I was in total control.
“I just want to say thank you to Top Rank, thank you to my team for everything you’ve done for me. But I’m done with this sport, that’s the last you’ve seen of me. I want to thank my sponsors for backing me over the years because I’m retired, I’m out.
“I love you all but sorry, f*** that.”
Peter Badel said: “This is the great Australian robbery. He did enough to win. His energy was better, he landed the better shots. I’m stunned. It’s a poor decision. Andrew Moloney won that fight.”
The loss comes a year after Moloney suffered a sickening knockout loss to Junto Nakatani and the performance will give his family some encouragement at least after brother Jason lost his world title in Japan earlier this week.
The brothers embraced in Andrew’s corner in heartwarming scenes and the commentators were convinced Moloney had won the fight.
Damon said: “He was punched into oblivion a couple of fights ago but he’s back. What a performance from the Australian.
“Look what it means! His brother was beaten but have they got another belt? The magnificent Moloneys. They’ve never shared a time as world champions but perhaps there is a title coming back.”
But it wasn’t to be in the shock call from the judges.
12pm – ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos the clear underdog
The odds are stacked heavily in Lomachenko’s favour to win, according to bookmaker TAB.
The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who won two Olympic golds as an amateur, is paying $1.14 to win compared to Kambosos, who is a clear underdog at $5.50.
Lomachenko is $1.55 to win via decision and $3.50 to win via knockout. Kambosos is paying $8 to win via decision and $10 to win via knockout.
It’s been a tough couple of months for Australian boxing, with Tim Tszyu and Jason Moloney losing world title fights.
Sam Goodman is targeting a showdown with Japanese bantamweight king Naoya Inoue and Tszyu begins his road back to superwelterweight glory against Vergil Ortiz Jr in August.
Jai Opetaia and Skye Nicholson are Australia’s current boxing world champions.
The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel said on Main Event: “We saw it with Lopez. He steps up on the big stage. I know Lomachenko’s the favourite but there’s a boilover brewing. George Kambosos can win this fight.”
11.45pm – Barbs fly after weigh-in delay
There was some minor drama at Saturday’s weigh-in when Kambosos was made to wait several minutes for Lomachenko to appear from behind a curtain.
“He’s struggling with the weight, that’s why,” Kambsosos said when asked why his opponent was taking a long time to get to the scales.
“I told you I’ve got nothing more to say. I’m here. I’m a true professional.”
Lomachenko weighed in at 61.2kg, slightly heavier than Kambosos who was 60.9kg.
MAIN CARD
Vasiliy Lomachenko def. George Kambosos Jr (c) via TKO – for IBO and vacant IBF lightweight world titles
Cherneka Johnson def.Nina Hughes (c) via MD (95-95, 96-94, 98-92) — for WBA bantamweight world title
Pedro Guevara def. Andrew Moloney via SD (115-113 x2, 113-116) — for interim WBC super flyweight world title
Joe Goodall def Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu via TKO in Round 10
Hemi Ahio def Lucas Browne via TKO in Round 1
PRELIMS
Imam Khataev def. Ricards Bolotniks via TKO in Round 6
Originally published as George Kambosos demolished by Vasiliy Lomachenko in brutal boxing ‘beatdown’
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