Lomachenko to hunt third title in Campbell combat

Unified light-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, the pound-for-pound king, can transfer a step nearer to turning into the undisputed champion when he returns to the positioning of his second Olympic gold-medal victory.

Lomachenko, the proprietor of two 135-pound belts, will defend these titles and compete for the belt vacated by Mikey Garcia when he meets fellow Olympic champion Luke Campbell on Aug. 31 on the O2 Enviornment in London, High Rank and Matchroom Boxing introduced Saturday.

Lomachenko, who received the 2008 Olympic featherweight gold medal for Ukraine in Beijing, received the 2012 Olympic gold medal in London and can combat there as soon as once more when he meets Campbell, the 2012 Olympic bantamweight gold medalist for Nice Britain.

The all-southpaw combat will headline a High Rank Boxing on ESPN+ card (5 p.m. ET) in the USA and air on Sky Field Workplace pay-per-view in the UK. A information convention is scheduled for Monday in London.

The combat was headed to a handbag bid till High Rank and Matchroom Boxing reached an settlement a few weeks in the past earlier than getting the whole lot signed.

“This can be a combat for historical past as a result of my purpose is to unify all the belts within the light-weight division,” stated Lomachenko, who has received world titles in three divisions. “Luke Campbell is the following problem for me on that journey. He is a wonderful fighter who I keep in mind nicely from the 2012 Olympics. He has a tough model, and I can’t afford to miss him.

“It is rather particular for me to combat in London. I visited final 12 months, and the response from the individuals was overwhelming. They respect my combating model and are obsessed with boxing. I can not wait to placed on an incredible present for everybody.”

The winner would want the fourth main title to develop into the undisputed champion, however it’s inside attain. If Lomachenko wins, his subsequent bout can be in early 2020 for the undisputed title in opposition to the winner of the anticipated fall combat between titleholder Richard Commey and Teofimo Lopez Jr., who earned the necessary title shot by advantage of his unanimous determination victory over Masayoshi Nakatani on Friday evening in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

“Vasiliy Lomachenko is a singular expertise who’s going to take the UK by storm,” High Rank chairman Bob Arum stated. “Luke Campbell is a wonderful fighter, however Lomachenko is in a category of his personal. The followers on that facet of the pond have needed Lomachenko to return ever since he turned professional. It will be a loopy, sold-out crowd on the O2 Enviornment, and I would not be shocked if Lomachenko has the group’s help.”

Campbell (20-2, 16 KOs), 31, will likely be getting his second shot at a world title. He was the necessary challenger when he traveled to Inglewood, California, and misplaced a cut up determination in opposition to then-titleholder Jorge Linares in September 2017. Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KOs), 31, later knocked Linares out to take his belt after which simply outpointed Jose Pedraza to unify two titles in December. In April, Lomachenko made his second protection by knocking out England’s Anthony Crolla within the fourth spherical in Los Angeles.

Campbell stated he’s excited to check his expertise in opposition to the very best fighter on the earth.

“The perfect combating the very best; that is going to make one hell of a combat,” stated Campbell, who has received three fights in a row because the loss to Linares. “I’m on this sport to be the very best, and I’m this sport to develop into a world champion. That is what I prepare and work so onerous for, to develop into a world champion and fulfill my potential.

“He’s ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound on the planet, so for me to combat a man like that solely encourages me extra to be the very best that I could be, and it’s precisely the extent that I wish to be at. I am nicely conscious of how good he’s and what he’s able to doing, however I am additionally nicely conscious of what I can do and what I’ll do. I feel that I can knock out anybody that I hit proper. I imagine that I’m one of many largest punchers within the light-weight division. That is going to be the hardest combat of my life, and I am getting ready for it, bodily and mentally. That is Luke Campbell’s 12 months. It is my time.”

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, Campbell’s promoter, has lengthy been a Lomachenko fan and is aware of his fighter is the underdog however doesn’t rely him out.

“Loma is just one of many most interesting boxers to ever lace them up, the very best fighter on the planet at present, and I am honored to be selling his first-ever professional combat within the U.Okay.,” Hearn stated, “however Luke is an elite world fighter too, and together with his vary, means and coronary heart, the Hull ace can shock the world and rip Loma’s titles from him on one other epic evening of boxing within the [English] capital.”