George Kambosos Jr, the reigning unified lightweight world champion was recently elevated to undisputed status without having the WBC belt around his waist, by none other than the council president himself, as the Aussie boxer defeated former unified champion Teofimo Lopez, who had beaten Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020, the then unified champion. And now, its Lomachenko himself who has called for a contest with Kambosos, as revealed by Top Rank president Todd Duboef.
George Kambosos Jr had originally contested for Lopez’s unified lightweight championship and on 27th November at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden defeated the “Takeover” via split decision, winning the WBA (Super), IBF and WBO, belts. Even though its Devin Haney who is the WBC champion, Lopez was designated as the governing body’s “Franchise champion”.
Vasiliy Lomachenko wants his titles back: Top Rank president Todd Duboef
The remarkable victory over the former unified champion Lopez, who had earlier beaten Vasyl Lomachenko for the three-belt championship, has given Kambosos Jr the undisputed status, and “Ferocious” will no be longer required to face Haney for the green-and-gold belt, as confirmed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.
“Devin Haney has the WBC lightweight title, he’s a pride WBC champion, he has grown into being a tremendous champion,” said Sulaiman, “Kambosos defeated [Teofimo] Lopez, who defeated [Vasiliy] Lomachenko, so I do believe is due recognition as undisputed champion and great fights to come.” [H/T BoxingNews24.com]
Kambosos, who is now a national hero in Australia, had also picked Lomachenko among the four he wants to defend his title up next, the other three being WBC champion Devin Haney, WBA’s “Regular” titleholder Gervonta Davis and former WBC interim titlist Ryan Garcia.
Meanwhile, Top Rank president Todd Duboef revealed to Sky Sports that Lomachenko, who reigned as the unified WBA (Super), WBC and WBO champion at 135 between 2018 and 2020, is willing to regain his titles and they are aiming to get the Ukrainian back inside the squared circle by June 2022 and a title fight by the end of the year.
“We are amicably trying to have discussions with them for a fight in the first half of next year. I am optimistic that, at the end of [2022], we will have Loma back fighting for the titles,” said DuBoef, “Lomachenko is a poster boy for many things in the sport. He was aggressively matched – he came right out of the amateurs and fought for a world title [in his second fight].”
Since losing to Lopez in October 2020, Lomachenko has picked up two back to back wins against Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey in June and December this year, with the latter bout earning him the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.
“He doesn’t look at a setback as his value going down. He looks at it like a re-set to go forwards. He has come back with two brilliant wins and he never says no to any opponents. He wants his titles back,” DuBoef added.
Highlights:
- Top Rank president Todd DuBoef claims former unified lightweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is aiming George Kambosos Jr fight up next
- Kambosos, the reigning unified champion at 135 was recently elevated to undisputed status by WBC prez
