Two former lightweight champions will face off in a high-stakes battle as Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. square off for the vacant IBF title at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on May 11. The 12-round bout, along with undercard action, will be available on ESPN+ in the United States.
Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) is a former three-weight world champion and once considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. However, points losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney have dimmed his star in recent years. Despite the loss to Haney, many believe the Ukrainian deserved the decision due to his impressive performance.
On the other hand, Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) is the former unified lightweight champion. The Australian fighter dethroned Lopez in 2021 to secure the IBF, WBA, WBO, and Ring titles but then lost two consecutive undisputed title fights to Haney via unanimous decision. In his most recent bout against Maxi Hughes, Kambosos won by majority decision but was criticized for an unconvincing performance.
### Betting Odds and Predictions
According to BetMGM, Lomachenko is a significant favorite with odds of -650, while Kambosos is listed as a +450 underdog. Here are additional betting trends:
– **Lomachenko via KO/TKO/Tech. Dec/DQ:** +250
– **Lomachenko via decision:** -175
– **Kambosos via KO/TKO/Tech. Dec/DQ:** +1200
– **Kambosos via decision:** +700
– **Draw:** +2000
### Fight Analysis and Prediction
The fight poses a challenging stylistic matchup for Kambosos. His last outing against Maxi Hughes was unconvincing, narrowly escaping with a majority decision win. Against the mobile southpaw with quick hands and feet, Kambosos struggled, and those same traits describe Lomachenko, but at a significantly higher level.
Lomachenko’s superior technical skill, movement, and ability to exploit his opponent’s weaknesses will be difficult for Kambosos to counter. Although the Australian is known for his grit and resilience, Lomachenko is expected to use his ring IQ and experience to control the fight. Ultimately, Lomachenko is favored to win decisively, likely via decision or possibly by a late stoppage.
