Boxing greats Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. will tangle for the vacant IBF lightweight title in a 12-round bout scheduled for May 11 in Perth, Australia. A former world champion in three weight classes, including a unified lightweight titlist, Lomachenko opened as a huge -600 favorite on the opening boxing betting line. Most recently Lomachenko lost a close unanimous decision to undisputed lightweight champ Devin Haney last May when he was an underdog for the first time in his career.
Kambosos has numerous accolades on his resume as well having held the WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles up until 2022. He lost those belts to Haney dropping consecutive bouts to the undisputed champ. However, Kambosos earned another belt claiming the IBO world title with a 12-round majority decision last time out over Maxi Hughes. Kambosos captured a regional title in just his third pro fight and quickly climbed the ranks. He’s listed as a +405 underdog on the early betting line.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. Betting Odds
Vasiliy Lomachenko -600
George Kambosos Jr. +405
The 12-round lightweight fight for the vacant IBF belt between Vasiliy Lomachenko ( 17-3, 11 KOs ) and George Kambosos Jr. ( 21-2, 10 KOs ) will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia and will air live on ESPN.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. Fight Preview
One thing the fighters have in common is their inability to beat Devin Haney. After a split decision win over Teofimo Lopez for the WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles, Kambosos was handed his first professional defeat by Haney in a clash for the undisputed lightweight championship. Kambosos struggled to make weight, doing so on his final attempt. He then lost significantly on all three scorecards. There was an automatic rematch clause that Kambosos took advantage of.
Though he made weight without an issue for the second fight the scores were similar in another UD setback a little over four months later. Kambosos originally won the titles in November 2021 with a split decision over Teofimo Lopez. It was a significant win since Lopez beat Lomachenko by unanimous decision 13 months earlier to claim the WBA and WBO belts.
Lomachenko claimed the WBA belt with a 10th round TKO of Jorge Linares in 2018 and added the WBO belt in a UD win over Jorge Pedraza in his next bout. He gained the WBC belt with a UD over Luke Campbell in October 2019. Facing undefeated IBF lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez in October 2020, Lomachenko suffered his second pro defeat and first in 14 fights relinquishing his belts.
Responding with three straight wins earned Lomachenko a bout with undisputed lightweight champ Haney in May 2023. In a tightly-contested fight where some thought Lomachenko did enough to win, the unanimous decision went to Haney, who called his opponent the toughest he’s faced yet. Working his jab and combinations, Lomachenko put the champ on the defensive and seemingly got stronger in the later rounds.
That was the last time Lomachenko was in the ring meaning he’s had 12 months off between fights. Some boxers like to stay active with two sometimes three fights in a year. There was a 14-month hiatus prior to fighting Lopez in 2020, which resulted in a UD loss for Lomachenko.
The good news for both fighters is that after beating them Haney moved up in weight vacating his belts leaving arguably the next two best lightweights to duke it out.
Bet Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr.
I was a little surprised to see such long odds for this fight. Going off common opponents Kambosos handed Lopez his first and so far only professional defeat. That came after Lopez beat Lomachenko by unanimous decision. The telling sign might be how the fighters did against Haney. Lomachenko and a lot of others felt he did enough to beat the champ last May eventually losing a close UD. In his two fights against Haney, Kambosos was soundly beaten winning only a few rounds according to the judges. Lomachenko hung with Haney using exceptional footwork and counter punches. His ability to change stance mid-fight is also confusing for opponents leading me to back Lomachenko.
Boxing Odds Pick: Vasiliy Lomachenko / Split Decision
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