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Ukrainian boxing sensation Vasiliy Lomachenko received high praise from promoter Bob Arum, who hailed him as one of the sport's all-time greats after his impressive 11th-round stoppage win over George Kambosos Jr. in Australia on Sunday.
The victory saw Lomachenko claim the vacant IBF lightweight title, adding to his already illustrious career record of 18 wins, 3 losses, and 12 knockouts. Facing off at the RAC Arena in Perth, Lomachenko showcased his dominance, leading on the scorecards with scores of 99-91 (twice) and 98-92 at the time of the stoppage.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Arum praised Lomachenko's performance, calling it "brilliant" and expressing his belief that the Ukrainian will continue to be dominant in future fights.
"Loma is one of the great fighters of our time, the greatest amateur of all time, and he’s been a blessing to the professional boxing ranks. Nobody fights with the ability of Vasiliy Lomachenko," Arum stated.
Lomachenko, however, remained humble in victory, focusing on his happiness at reclaiming the world champion title. He expressed gratitude to his team, including his father and coach Anatoly, his manager Egis Klimas, and promoter Top Rank, for their support.
"I’m happy because I’m a world champion again. It was my goal, it was my motivation, and now I’m champion again. I’m very happy," Lomachenko said.
When asked about his future plans, Lomachenko chose to stay non-committal, stating that he wanted to return home and spend time with his family before considering his next steps in boxing. He also expressed his enjoyment of Australia and his hope to return for leisure activities like fishing.
Regarding the upcoming heavyweight unification showdown between Tyson Fury and Lomachenko's fellow Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, Lomachenko made his allegiance clear, stating his support for Usyk and expressing his hopes for a victory.
"I’m with my friend, I’m with my brother Oleksandr Usyk, and of course I wish him to win this fight, and the best man we will win," said Lomachenko. "This is a very historical moment for boxing, for people around boxing, and for our Ukraine it’s a very important fight. I will be praying for Oleksandr, and I hope the best man wins."
Overall, Lomachenko's win over Kambosos not only reaffirmed his status as a boxing great but also set the stage for potentially exciting matchups and further achievements in his already illustrious career.
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