Vasyl Lomachenko beats Luke Campbell to retain lightweight world titles - BBC Sport
Vasyl Lomachenko produces a battling display to beat Britain's Luke Campbell on points and add the WBC lightweight title to his WBA and WBO belts.
Last updated on .From the section Boxing

Vasyl Lomachenko produced a battling display to beat Britain's Luke Campbell on points and add the WBC lightweight title to his WBA and WBO belts.

Lomachenko, 31, regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers, was made to work hard for the thrilling win.

Campbell, also 31, was aiming to become a world champion for the first time but was floored in the 11th as the Ukrainian's class proved decisive.

Lomachenko got the verdict 119-108, 119-108, 118-108 at London's O2 Arena.

Campbell, an Olympic gold medallist in 2012, suffered the third loss of his 23-fight professional career but deserves huge praise for the way he fought back to hear the final bell.

"He is so good, he adapts to any plans," said Campbell. "Tonight was not the jackpot but my time will come."

The Hull man was in trouble at the end of the fifth when he was caught by a crushing left hook and then a barrage of body and head shots, but was saved by the bell.

Campbell took more punishment in the sixth, but had success of his own later in that round and the next in a captivating contest.

He was floored in the 11th after a barrage of body shots and then a jab. But he got up to finish the fight, although two of the three judges only gave him a round, with the other judge giving him two.

Campbell was later taken to hospital but promoter Eddie Hearn said it was only a precautionary measure.

Lomachenko lives up to the hype

A sold-out crowd at the O2 Arena witnessed another fantastic, dominant performance from Lomachenko, a three-weight world champion.

This latest victory - in only his 15th fight as a professional - means he now holds three of the main four belts in the lightweight division - Ghana's Richard Commey, the IBF champion, is the man standing between him and being undisputed champion.

Lomachenko has also held world titles at featherweight and super-featherweight after an incredible amateur career that saw him win 396 out of 397 bouts and also win Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and in London four years later.

Now, less than five miles from where he won that second gold medal and in his first professional fight in Europe, Lomachenko dazzled from the off.

Before the fight, Hearn said it was an "honour" to get the Ukrainian to fight in the UK - and he did not disappoint.

The right jab proved a constant menace and the left was dangerous, twice rocking Campbell's head back as early as the third round.

He also provided some brutal body shots, leaving Campbell wincing in pain in the fourth.

Lomachenko told BBC Radio 5 Live: "He has big amateur experience, he's a smart fighter, a technical fighter and you saw his reach so of course it was hard for me.

"He gave me a good experience and a good fight. I want a unification fight for the four belts."

In the build-up to this fight, legendary promoter Bob Arum said Lomachenko was the greatest technical fighter in boxing since Muhammad Ali and afterwards also compared him to other greats including Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.

So to go the distance shows what a gutsy effort it was from Campbell.

This was his second world title shot after he lost on a controversial split decision against Jorge Linares in the US in September 2017.

On that occasion, Campbell, whose father died two weeks before the fight, was knocked down in the second but fought back, and later insisted he won the fight by a two-round margin.

But against Lomachenko it never looked likely that Campbell, a 10-1 underdog, would get the victory, as the Ukrainian was too good, despite the Briton being two inches taller and having a five-inch reach advantage.

Lomachenko was fighting a British opponent for only the second time, after knocking out former world champion Anthony Crolla in the fourth round in the US earlier this year.

Campbell managed to go the distance, but a shock win was not to happen.

Former world champion Carl Frampton: "I never expected that. It was down to Luke Campbell who showed such skill alongside grit and determination. His stock has risen dramatically tonight even though he is the loser. I think Lomachenko underplayed how hard that was. I think it's the toughest fight he has had as a professional."

BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello: "Three of the four versions of the title now rest with Vasyl Lomachenko. But people who haven't seen it won't realise how hard he has had to work for it."

BBC Radio 5 Live boxing expert Steve Bunce: "We came for sorcery and were given a display of old-fashioned grit, determination and heart and desire. Such bravery, such guts. The points mean nothing. Luke Campbell made the magician look normal."