MASAM SPORTS 53: VASILIY LOMACHENKO REMAINS IN WAR-RAVAGED UKRAINE, GEORGE KAMBOSOS TO FIGHT DEVIN HANEY FOR UNDISPUTED LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Mar 2022
Former three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko withdrew from his proposed lightweight title fight with George Kambosos Jr. due to his commitment to serve the Ukrainian defense against the invading Russians.
Kambosos’ promoter Lou DiBella told Boxing Scene that Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas disclosed him on Monday that Lomachenko will not abandon his war-ravaged country to train for a June 5 fight with WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring lightweight champion Kambosos in Melbourne, Australia.
DiBella and Lomachenko’s promoter Bob Arum has come to terms last month for the two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko to challenge Kambosos in a 12-round championship fight in Marvel Stadium.
Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) was visiting a monastery in Greece and traveled to Bucharest, Romania, then drove for nine hours to the port and rode a ferry to Ukraine. He then supported military efforts in his country. Since then it is in doubt if Lomachenko would proceed with the Kambosos challenge.
DiBella and Arum were still hoping until Monday that Lomachenko might carry on with the title fight, nonetheless both promoters consistently showed high regard for the Ukrainian former champion’s position on the Russian invasion of his country.
DiBella revealed to Boxing Scene that the title bout between Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) and Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) instead will be scheduled for June 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
“I spoke to Egis Klimas and he confirmed that Loma would not be available to fight George next,” DiBella was quoted by Boxing Scene. “He thanked me and thanked Kambosos for giving him ample opportunity to make up his mind, and he thanked us for doing the deal in the first place."
"We had an inkling the other day, when the [Ukrainian] government had said it was OK [for Lomachenko to fight]," DiBella continued. "But we didn’t hear an affirmative response [from Lomachenko], we had a sense that this was likely. So, we were not shocked."
“But Egis confirmed today that he’s gonna stay in the Ukraine," added DiBella. "We commend him. We think the fight he’s fighting is much bigger than boxing. And our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and with the Ukrainian people. What they’re going through obviously is far more significant than any boxing match.”
DiBella insisted that that they’re fighting in a stadium in June and pursue the biggest opportunity that’s available which is the Devin Haney fight. He added that Haney will be given the same opportunity to fight on the same terms as Lomachenko.
Kambosos won the IBF, WBA, WBC franchise and WBO lightweight titles from Teofimo Lopez (16-1, 12 KOs), by beating him via split decision on November 27, 2021at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Lopez won the WBC Franchise lightweight title in addition to the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and The Ring magazine titles after beating Vasiliy Lomachenko by unanimous decision in October 17, 2020 at the MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Haney defeated Russia’s Zaur Abdullaev (15-1, 9 KOs) by fourth round technical knockout to win the WBC interim lightweight title in September 13, 2019 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York.
Haney became the youngest world champion in boxing when he was elevated as the WBC lightweight champion after the previous WBC lightweight champion Lomachenko was promoted to "WBC Franchise Champion" in October 2019.
The 23-year-old Devin "The Dream" Haney is from San Francisco, California, USA. He has a 55.56% KO rate while Kambosos has a 50% KO rate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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