Cool Hand Luke: Can Campbell upset the odds against Lomachenko?
The main event on fight night at The O2 Arena this weekend sees Luke ‘Cool Hand’ Campbell face up against Vasiliy Lomachenko, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. With three of boxing’s four lightweight world titles on the line, here GentingBet previews the matchup between the two former Olympic gold medallists and rounds up the best of the betting on offer.
For Campbell, it is the biggest test of his career to date – as reflected in the betting with the Hull-born fighter ranked as a 9/1 outsider. In Lomachenko, Campbell goes up against a man who has had to move up a weight division after outclassing opponents in Super featherweight. Nicknamed ‘The Matrix’ for his exceptional ability to control space, Lomachenko is a master of fighting up close to his opponents. With 12 victories from last his 12 fights, Lomachenko came into the professional ranks off the back of a decorated amateur career – winning an astonishing 396 of his 397 bouts.
With little value to be had in backing Lomachenko in the fight winner market (1/16 on), punters should consider that just one of the Ukrainian’s last 10 fights has gone the distance. Therefore, Lomachenko to win by stoppage at 4/11 could be the way to go on Saturday night.
For Campbell to find success in this fight, he will need to use his height and reach advantage to try and unsettle Lomachenko. If the fight goes the distance, it’s difficult to look past a points win for the Ukrainian. A stoppage appears to be Campbell’s best chance at an upset. It’s worth bearing in mind that four of Campbell’s last five wins have come via knockout, so if the 31-year-old can catch Lomachenko off guard, a win by KO/TKO/DQ/TD at 11/1 would offer a good return.
Luke Campbell takes on Vasiliy Lomachenko at the O2 Arena on Saturday night. For the latest fight odds, visit GentingBet.