The big fight this week will be the world championship clash between WBA/WBO lightweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KOs) and WBC #1 rated “Cool Hand” Luke Campbell (20-2, 16 KOs) at The O2 in London on Saturday. The vacant WBC lightweight title will also be up for grabs. Lomochenko is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2008 and 2012, while Campbell was a 2012 gold medalist.
The card also features WBC flyweight champion Charlie Edwards (15-1, 6 KOs) defending against Julio Cesar Martinez (14-1, 11 KOs) and a heavyweight showdown between Hughie Fury (23-2, 13 KOs) and 39-year-old former world champion Alexander Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs). ESPN+ will stream beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT.
Campbell has the pedigree (gold medalist 2012) and foundation to challenge Loma but I don’t think anyone will bet serious money on him.
At least for me, Loma has been the most flawless and complete fighter of the last years, and although anything can happen in boxing, I don’t see anyone beating him any time soon. Every Loma fight is yet another show of brilliance, and I am looking forward to this one.
The only “problem” with Loma is that he will most likely not be able to go up higher than lightweight because of his size. Because of this limitation he may run out of serious opponents. I think a fight against the Tank next year is inevitable, and it would be one of the most interesting fights in lightweight history..
yeah the problem when a fighter is so skilled, is that only a really big puncher has a chance of winning. The Tank fight would have that element. Unfortunately for Campbell, i dont think he has the power to really shock Loma. I just hope he doesn’t get blown away like Crolla
Stonefree, I normally disagree with your comments but I agree with you here 100%
Thank you for your friendly comment.
I am surprised to see no Fury – Povetkin predictions in here.
I think its a difficult fight to predict because of Povetkin’s age. If it were a young Povetkin, I would say Povetkin by KO within 6 rounds. At this point in time, however, Hughie has been the much more active fighter lately and he has gained a lot of experience from the Parker and Pulev fights. Range will be a major issue – if Hughie can keep Povetkin at a distance, he has a chance to win on points. Povetkin will most likely cut off the ring and force him to trade. If that happens, Povetkin should win by KO.
Luke Campbell is a more difficult fight than we might expect. I am not discarding a massive upset with Lomachenko and his team demanding an immediate rematch. Campbell is not the walking punching bag of Crolla, he is a solid and skilled southpaw that has great heart and good defense. Being this type of fighter (durable and relentless) and fighting at home, means a big disadvantage for Lomachenko. Lomachenko is one in the lifetime marvelous boxer that we have the opportunity to see and never again another like him, but he is beatable at this point of his stellar boxing career. Believe or not, he is an old boxer, with the best of him spent on the amateur activities. He could be 13-1, but at 31, he is like a boxer with 42 fights, because of those years fighting as an amateur. Enjoy him the very few years he has left.
Mikemiguel: If one makes a direct comparison between Campbell and Lomachenko, its hard to imagine a Campbell win. Campbell may have the same intensity of Loma, but Loma beats him in skills/technique, counter punching, power, speed, defense and offense.
I just can’t see Campbell win a single round, what to speak of upsetting Loma. At best I can imagine a good body shot that may startle Loma for a few seconds, but before and after we will see that, we will see Loma landing some serious punches.
The P4P #1 fighter today is back. We get to see this master boxer/puncher apply his abilities. Every 10-15 years we get to marvel at a fighter who becomes the zenith at the game. The only problem I see with Loma is this, apart from a Leonard/Roy Jones jr replica, who in this day and age really has any chance? Terrance Crawford does, but he is just to big for Loma. And ANYONE around his weight stands less than a zero chance. Loma might have put himself out of big money fights with him making all those fabulous fighters say NO MAS. Imagine being so incredible that even other P4P fighters quit because there is nothing they can do??
I’m hoping for the day Loma get his head rocked, but there’s no one he is going to fight anytime soon who can do it. Tank Davis is going to wait another 2 years before he fights him The plan is for Tank to become a big name beating featherweights Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz while Loma gets old. Then you will see the fight.
Canyada Luis: It APPEARS you’re going to be waiting a very loooong time. If Jorge Linares who was much bigger (height and weight wise) than Loma, could not stop him, how can that little Davis have any chance at all? He’d have to wait 10 years before he would have a snowballs chance in hell. And with how many times he fights every year or two years, he would have to bring Broner into the ring and try to tag team Loma WWE style, still i think both of these stiffs would lose.
Your wishes will come true te day Lomachenko fights Devin Haney, Canyada. Fotget about Gervonta, who IMO is about to be a wasted talent the way he is managed.