Lomachenko reigns supreme in London
LUKE CAMPBELL did himself proud but was outclassed by Ukrainian master Vasyl Lomachenko in last night’s world lightweight title bout.
Not every night does the best pound-for-pound boxer on earth pitch up on the banks of the River Thames.
There was massive fascination with Loma among the UK boxing community as the twice golden Olympian, two-time world amateur champion and unified world lightweight title holder came into his first pro fight in this country.
Respect for Lomachenko’s unique skills went hand in glove with the home hope that Campbell could make his height, reach and natural weight advantages spring an upset for the ages.
Lomachenko acknowledged the most amazing, generous reception for a foreign boxer in a British ring for many a year, before going to work. Slowly.
So slowly that Campbell won the first round easily with his long right jab supplemented by a couple of left hooks.
The great one was a little livelier in the second. Campbell still did enough to strengthen his foothold in the fight but was caught by an ominous left as the second closed. The most severe onslaught came at the end of the fifth which Campbell did well to survive. He soaked up early punishment and then came back to steal it near the end with a body attack.
Campbell had the crowd on their feet with a left which wobbled Loma and a follow-up which had him holding, But, as if taking it as a warning, the champion came back with rapidfire assaults which twice had Campbell reeling on the ropes.
Few had expected Campbell to last the duration. But the night and the world belonged to Loma, by official scores of 119-108 twice and 118-109.