No backing down as George Kambosas and Vasiliy Lomachenko face off before Perth world title fight

Australia’s George Kambosos has doubled-down on a prediction he will retire Ukranian boxing legend Vasily Lomachenko before a theatrical face-off at Thursday’s press conference ahead of Sunday’s IBF world lightweight title bout at RAC Arena.

Kambosos, 30, and 36-year-old Lomachenko, regarded as the greatest amateur of all time and a three-division world professional champion, had to be separated after a post-conference stare down that lasted more than three minutes.

Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne could not divide the pair, before Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimis and Kambosos’ father Jim intervened.

“When I beat Lomachenko, there’ll be no more road for him to go. This is retirement for him.,” Kambosos said at Crown Casino, predicting a stoppage in the 12 x three-minute bout on Sunday morning that will be beamed live back to the US.

“The way I’m sparring, the way I’m firing on every engine. The speed that I have – he’s never seen this kind of speed and explosive power,” Kambosos said.

“The will, the heart I have, the desire to win this fight. I want this bad. I’ve prepared extremely hard for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned. Sunday, you will see.”

Lomanchenko was not making any bold return predictions.

“I hear this not for the first time. I am not surprised. We will see what happens on Sunday. See you in the ring,” he said.

TABTouch values Lomachenko a $1.13 favourite ahead of Kambosos at $5.25 who dropped consecutive fights against American Devin Haney before winning the IBO world title against Englishman Maxi Hughes.

The Sydneysider shocked the boxing world in 2021 when he upset Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in New York to claim the IBF, WBO, WBA and Ring lightweight titles.

“I don’t think there is any bigger fight than this in the boxing history of Australia,” Kambosos said.

“I’m very focused in that ring: me and Lomachenko … I couldn’t dare think about anybody else bar Lomachenko. I’ve been obsessed with this guy. That’s all I’ve thought about.”

Kambosos and Lomachenko were previously slated to fight in 2019 and 2022, the latter cancelled when the Ukraine returned to his homeland to defend his country against invading Russia.

“This is destiny. This is the path for both of us. And Sunday, this is when we grace the ring and do our battle,” Kambosos said.

“Lomachenko, you can’t fault the guy when it comes to the person and fighter he is. But I am extremely confident and I bring that confidence from the preparation I have had.”

There will be two other world title fights on the card with Briton’s Nina Hughes taking on New Zealand’s Cherneka Johnson for the WBA bantamweight world title.

Australia’s Andrew Moloney faces Mexicon Pedro Guevara for the interim WBC super flyweight title.