everal years ago, local boxer Ryno Liebenberg remarked that Vasiliy Lomachenko was the best fighter he had ever seen.
“He’s got it all, he’s impossible to beat,” said the former SA champion.
Lomachenko has come on since, winning a world championship in the fewest professional fights (three) and becoming a three-weight champion in his 12thfight. All but one of his bouts has been for a championship.
The two-time Olympic champion, who had 396 amateur fights with a single defeat, this weekend faces 2012 Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell for the WBA “super”, WBC and WBO lightweight belts in London.
The action will be broadcast live on SuperSport 5 from 21:00 on Saturday.
It’s a stacked card overall, also featuring Alexander Povetkin vs Hughie Fury, Charlie Edwards vs Julio Cesar Martinez for Edwards’ WBC flyweight title, plus Joshua Buatsi vs Ryan Ford.
Lomachenko-Campbell is likely Loma’s most intriguing match at the weight given that Campbell is taller and has a greater reach.
The Ukrainian agrees that Campbell represents a big challenge.
“Guys are bigger than me, they have a bigger reach, they are taller. It is harder. I don’t think about knockouts. I just get in the ring and do my boxing. If I can, I will take it.
“I can’t speak English easily so I can’t open my personality in English. I can’t be a superstar but I can be the best boxer in history — this is my goal.”