Lomachenko vs. Kambosos

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr.: Lomachenko wins by TKO in the 11th round.

Nina Hughes vs. Cherneka Johnson: Cherneka Johnson wins by MD.

Andrew Moloney vs. Pedro Guevara: Pedro Guevara wins by SD.

Joseph Goodall vs. Faiga Opelu:
Joseph Goodall wins by TKO in the 10th round.

Hemi Ahio vs. Lucas Browne:
Hemi Ahio wins by TKO in the 1st round.

Imam Khataev vs. Ricards Bolotniks: Imam Khataev wins by TKO in the 6th round.

The highly anticipated fight between Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos for the vacant IBF lightweight title is set to take place in Perth, Australia. This exciting matchup will be televised in the U.S. on the night of May 11, bringing together two significant figures in the lightweight division.

Vasiliy Lomachenko, a future Hall of Famer, is recognized as a three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Rated as ESPN’s No. 1 fighter at 135 pounds, Lomachenko is known for his exceptional skill and prowess in the ring. His decision to stay in Ukraine during the country’s conflict with Russia led to a pause in his boxing career, but he now returns to the ring with his sights set on the IBF title.

A closer look at Vasiliy Lomachenko's skills: Watch

On the other side, George Kambosos, the former undisputed lightweight champion, made waves when he claimed the championship by defeating Teofimo Lopez in ESPN’s 2021 Upset of the Year. Recently, Kambosos secured a controversial decision win over Maxi Hughes, setting the stage for this upcoming clash with Lomachenko.

Watch the official Lomachenko vs. Kambosos final press conference highlights: Watch

On the undercard, originally slated to face Carlos Cuadras, Andrew Moloney finds himself up against Pedro Guevara, a formidable opponent with a track record that mirrors Cuadras. Guevara narrowly lost to Cuadras in a bid for the same title last year, while Moloney, on the rebound from a defeat against Junto Nakatani, is keen on making a statement. "I look forward to being the first person to beat him convincingly and making a massive statement," said Moloney.

In the co-main event of the evening, British boxer Nina Hughes (6-0, 2 KOs) will defend her WBA bantamweight title against the New Zealand-Australian former champion Cherneka Johnson (15-2, 6 KOs) in a world championship bout set for 10 rounds.

Nina Hughes, a 41-year-old fighter from Essex, is a four-time national champion who captured Commonwealth gold in her third professional bout and clinched the WBA bantamweight belt in her fifth fight. This upcoming match marks her second title defense.

On the other side, Johnson, hailing from New Zealand but based in Australia, is also a multi-time national champion with three Golden Glove victories. However, she has a mixed record in her last four bouts, going 2-2, and during this period, she both won and lost the IBF super bantamweight title. This fight will be her return to the ring after nearly a year's brake.

Kambosos says he is ready: Watch

Additionally, the card includes a bout between Imam Khataev (6-0, 6 KOs) and Ricards Bolotniks (20-7-1, 8 KOs) in the light heavyweight division.

Khataev, a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist with a flawless knockout-to-win ratio, is looking to add another victory following his recent win of the NABF light heavyweight title in January 2024. Bolotniks, originally a hockey player before turning to boxing, boasts eight knockout victories. The Latvian fighter has an even split in his last four fights, with two wins, both of which went the distance.

Australian heavyweight Joseph Goodall (10-2-1, 9 KOs) is set to fight Faiga Opelu (16-4-2, 12 KOs) of Samoa in another 10-round bout.

Joseph Goodall is an acclaimed professional boxer from Australia. He has been the WBC Australasia heavyweight champion since March 2021. Goodall's amateur career was also notable; he won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the 2017 World Championships. His achievement in 2017 marked Australia's first medal at the World Championships in over two decades.

Faiga Opelu, from Camira, Queensland, has Samoan roots and has rapidly made a name for himself in the heavyweight category. Opelu began his professional career in March 2017 and quickly racked up five consecutive wins. Growing up in New Zealand, Opelu admired Samoan-born former professional boxer David Tua, yet his true inspiration comes from his grandfather, a boxer in Samoa, who inspired him to aim high and set his sights on becoming a world champion. In November 2019, he captured his first title, the vacant Australian Heavyweight Championship, by defeating Kris Terzievski through a technical knockout. Following up on this victory, Opelu secured another knockout win the next month against Hunter Sam during the third round.

Watch weigh in face off on YouTube: Watch

Completing the lineup, Hemi Ahio (21-1, 16 KOs) from New Zealand will go up against Australian Lucas Browne (31-5, 27 KOs) in an eight-round heavyweight match.

Since turning professional in 2013, Ahio has crafted a commendable career. His most recent victory was a technical knockout against Amron Sands. In contrast, Browne, who started his professional journey in 2009, has faced two consecutive defeats yet holds a higher knockout rate. Despite recent challenges against younger competitors like Mark Petrovsky, Browne's extensive experience in the ring should not be underestimated.

Ahio's series of victories, primarily against less experienced fighters, suggests he has built significant momentum, which he could use to his advantage against Browne, who appears more vulnerable to younger fighters.

The event, celebrated by legendary promoter Bob Arum, is expected to captivate boxing fans with high-stakes matchups.

“I can’t wait to arrive in the beautiful city of Perth for this historic event,” remarked Arum.

Fight card:

▪️Vasyl Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr., 12 rounds, for the vacant IBF World lightweight title, IBO World lightweight title ▪️Nina Hughes vs. Cherneka Johnson, 10 rounds, for the WBA World bantamweight title ▪️Andrew Moloney vs. Pedro Guevara, 12 rounds, for the WBC Interim World super flyweight title ▪️Joseph Goodall vs. Faiga Opelu, 10 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Lucas Browne vs. Hemi Ahio, 8 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Imam Khataev vs. Ricards Bolotniks, 10 rounds, cruiserweight