VASYL LOMACHENKO scored a brutal 11th round stoppage of George Kambosos Jr to recapture the IBF lightweight title.
The Ukrainian returned from a year-long layoff on Sunday morning to face the former unified lightweight champion Down Under.
The vacant IBF 135lbs title was up for grabs in the Perth clash, which Loma dominated from the opening bell.
Lomachenko, 36, quickly established his range after the opening bell and quickly built an early lead in the fight.
Kambosos Jr, however, found success in the third round with some body shots, which proved to be some of his best strikes in the fight.
The struggle, at times, seemed to be target training for the speedy Loma, who opened a gaping wound above the Australian-born Greek’s right eye in the eighth round.
And the fan favorite looked to end the show in the 11th verse, brutalizing Kambosos’ body with a ferocious left hook to the liver.
Kambosos Jr somehow managed to beat the count and get back to his feet.
Sensing the end was near, Lomachenko delivered more vicious body blows that doubled Kambosos and led the referee to waive the contest.
Lomachenko’s regaining of one of the belts he lost to Teofimo Lopez in the Covid clash in October 2020 was watched by several fighters.
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Gervonta Davis was one of many interested observers and called out the former three-weight world champion in a now-deleted tweet.
‘Tank’, who is preparing to fight Frank Martin next month, tweeted: “He’s after Frank. Let me get Frank first.”
And Lomachenko wasted no time responding to the call, saying: “During my boxing career, I never ran.
“I always accept the fights.
“Right now, I want to go back to my home, spend time with my family.
“And after that I rest a little we can talk about future.”
A crestfallen Kambosos Jr said of Loma: “This guy is one of the best of all time.
“We did our best, but he is a good champion. He deserves that belt.
“I gave it my all. I’m still alive, I’m still standing. I’m not dead.”
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