Vasyl Lomachenko Vs. George Kambosos Jr. Stats Comparison and Prediction: Record, Age, Height, Reach, Weight, and Knockout Ratio

The RAC Arena in Perth, Australia will light up this Saturday as former champions, Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. take to the ring. They will compete for the IBF lightweight title, which was earlier vacated by their former opponent, Devin Haney, after his move to super lightweight. Boxing aficionados look at this clash as one that is important to the culture of boxing. After all, it is not just a battle of two fighters, but of two styles.

While the predictions for this matchup are deeply rooted in their fight styles and the way they maneuver in the ring, a comparative study of their stats and records also gives a poignant image. Who is how strong and who will win come Saturday night?

Vasyl Lomachenko Vs. George Kambosos Jr.: A Testing Scale

Vasyl Lomachenko’s graph in the boxing realm is intriguing. He tasted defeated soon after he turned pro in 2013. His second pro fight against Orlando Salido gave the fighter his maiden loss through a split decision. However, once he was past that hurdle, he seemed unstoppable. Over the years, he fought the likes of Roman Martinez (2016), Jason Sosa (2017), and Jose Pedraza (2019), winning against all of them.

However, his toughest opponent till then, Teofimo Lopez, defeated him on points in 2020. Following suit, three years later, after a brief streak of three wins, he lost a controversial decision to the undisputed lightweight champion at the time, Devin Haney, in a matchup that many believe was stolen from him. Since then, the Ukrainian fighter has been on a nearly year-long hiatus from competition. Today, his record stands strong at 17-3. His next opponent, equally abled and ‘Ferocious’, Kambosos Jr’s career has a similar graph.

After he turned pro in 2013, he continued a winning streak for about a decade. He won 18 fights in that span against the likes of Rey Perez (2019), Mickey Bey (2019), and Lee Selby (2020) as well as giving Teofimo Lopez (2021) his career’s sole loss. However, in 2022, ‘The Dream’ Haney powered through Ferocious in two fights fought in Australia back to back in 2022. A win against Maxi Hughes last year won him the IBO lightweight title. However, a win against Loma would be the perfect way for him to get back the unified titles he lost back in 2022. He enters the ring this weekend with a slightly better record of 21-2. But is a better record enough for him to guarantee a win against his Ukrainian opponent come fight night? It certainly helps. But a closer look at the stats can provide a better picture.

36-year-old ‘Loma’ comes in with a height of 5′7″ or 170cms with a reach of 65½″ or 166cm. He is coming in against Kambosos in a 135-lb-fight with a knockout ratio of 64.71%. On the other hand, 30-year-old Kambosos is taller at 5′9″ or 175 cm with a slightly better reach advantage of 68” but a worse knockout ratio of 47.62%. If these are the parameters for a prediction, Kambosos takes the lead with a greater height and reach than Loma. However, the Ukrainian has a stronger knockout ratio.

However, the outcome of this matchup hinges largely on the fighters’ styles and how they adapt their skills and positioning throughout the fight. So what is it that separates the from each other as a fighter and will those differences work in their favor? Let’s take a look.

A battle of contrasting styles

Vasyl Lomachenko is an extremely technical boxer with brilliant footwork and an awkward punching style that is difficult for most boxers to counter. What makes him unique is that, unlike most Southpaws, he is right-handed. This gives him the ability to deliver accurate, as well as powerful and fast jabs that leave his opponents shaken. Meanwhile, his Australian opponent is a brawler, with experience fighting in close quarters and a right hand that is known for its explosiveness.

For George Kambosos Jr., the path to victory lies in his ability to capitalize on Lomachenko’s tendencies early. Kambosos is known for his confidence-building style. He must come out aggressively, winning enough early rounds to establish a lead. Utilizing his height and reach advantages, if he can keep Lomachenko at bay, there is a very real chance that the Australian will become the victor.

His jab and force close-range exchanges need to be used to unleash his left-right combinations effectively. Kambosos Jr. also needs to disrupt Lomachenko’s rhythm. He needs to prevent Loma, in the early rounds, from implementing his usual strategy of maneuvering his lead hand by circling in and moving it up and down in between jabs in order to distract his opponent.

However, for Loma, defeating Kambosos Jr. will require a demonstration of his superior skill and IQ. He must avoid falling into the trap of engaging in close quarters, especially in the later rounds as his high guard style may fatigue his lead hand causing it to drop.

These close-range exchanges are where Kambosos Jr. excels. Instead, he should utilize his footwork and defensive skills by striking in and out. Lomachenko has the ability to stick and move evading punches. By implementing his superior boxing technique, Lomachenko can very possibly secure a clear victory, unless the big right hand from Kambosos Jr. catches him on the chin. In that case, the fight may very well be over.

Who do you think will win this fight? Take your picks in the comments section below.