George Kambosos (21-2) believes he has an ace up his sleeve when it comes to taking on modern great and three-time world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3).
The pair, who have been unified lightweight world champions, Showdown at the RAC Arena in Perth on May 12. for the vacant IBF 135-pound title.
It’s a fight that has been on the Australian’s radar for several years and was almost finalized for Kambosos’ first world title defense in 2022 before Lomachenko opted to help defend his native Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
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While the matchup was officially announced at a press conference on Wednesday, Kambosos has been confident he will fight Lomachenko for several months.
The Sydneysider said a lucky meeting with Russian national boxing team coach Anton Kadushin came at the perfect time.
“We met by chance. I went to a gym store to buy some equipment and before you knew it, I heard this guy with an accent say my name. I turned around and it was Anton,” Kambosos said. Sport News.
“We exchanged numbers, chatted a little and suddenly he’s at my gym.
“We started working a little bit and we just gelled. I really saw his style, my style, and I knew that with an upcoming fight against Lomachenko…we could see that this was meant to be, this was destiny and it will be proven on May 12.
“He’s worked with a lot of good fighters in the past, obviously with the amateur system in Russia and to become one of the top Russian national coaches for the Olympic team there, they don’t play there, they pick the best.” .”
While praising Kadushin, Kambosos also paid tribute to former coach Chris Bakis, who passed away last year.
“He is in a good place now and we will always have his memory with us,” he said.
“We took him with us into battle.”
Raised in South Sydney, Kambosos was trained by Igor Goloubev, uncle and trainer of Tim and Nikita Tszyu, for much of his amateur and professional career.
The 30-year-old welcomed the return to a similar style of boxing.
“When you have a Russian coach, who brings the old school Russian style and the Soviet Union style, something that is Lomachenko’s bread and butter, something that he used to use as an amateur where he used to work with the Russian style, it is refreshing. and it’s great to be using that system again,” Kambosos said.
“And what better way to fight a guy like Vasiliy Lomachenko and have that, work with it every day.”
Lomachenko’s amateur record is among the best of all time and he counts two Olympic gold medals among his achievements.
As a professional, he won the featherweight title in his third fight, before adding world championships at 130 and 135 pounds.
Kambosos predicts that Kadushin’s information on his opponent will be a major factor on fight day, although he understandably remained tight-lipped about what they’ve been working on specifically.
“He [Kadushin] “He knows Lomachenko’s style perfectly,” he added.
“We have been working on it for many months, and now that we are reaching the decisive moment and getting closer and closer, everything is falling into place perfectly.
“The combinations, the movement, the footwork. And we’re bringing in great training partners. We’ll bring in training partners from Russia, where they’re going to emulate a guy like Lomachenko.
“This is not a joke. We take this fight very, very seriously and we know what is at stake.
“Careers are on the line, the Hall of Fame is on the line, the legacy is on the line. And that supreme lightweight number one in the world is at stake in this fight.”
Kambosos rose to global fame when he defeated Teófimo López in New York to become the top man in the lightweight division.
After his planned fight against Lomachenko fell through, Kambosos faced Devin Haney twice in Melbourne, losing both times in June and October 2022.
He returned to the winner’s circle when he faced Maxi Hughes last July, but even Kambosos admitted it wasn’t a convincing performance.
Lomachenko, who turns 36 next month, also last fought Haney, losing a close decision in May.
Kambosos believes their respective styles should ensure an exciting fight, but one “Ferocious” is extremely confident he can win.
“I will be 110 percent and if [Lomachenko] He brings the best of himself and a style with which he always fights and I give my best and what I am contributing now, I don’t see how he can beat me,” Kambosos said.
“And people will say, ‘Kambosos is crazy.’ He’s talking a little and just dreaming about it.’
“But I have shocked the world and I will shock it again. I have pursued these fights. I want these fights.
“This is not about anything else. “This is the legacy, winning this fight.”
“I haven’t been at my best in these last few fights, so I know I’m going to give my best in this fight.”
