BBN gather predictions for Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Luke Campbell
Pound-for-pound no.1 Vasiliy Lomachenko (13-1 10 KOs) will face world title contender Luke Campbell (20-2, 16 KOs) for the WBC, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Lightweight World titles on Saturday August 31 at The O2 in London, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and ESPN+ in the US.
Lomachenko famously went 396-1 as an amateur, won gold in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and has won World titles at Featherweight, Super-Featherweight and Lightweight already in the paid ranks. He fought for a World title in his second pro bout and won the WBO Featherweight World title in his third appearance, and became the fastest three-weight world champion in history in May 2018.
Campbell became the WBC mandatory challenger when he exacted revenge over Frenchman Yvan Mendy at Wembley Stadium, London in September 2017. The London 2012 Olympic Gold medal star was superb in his first World title clash, slightly edged by then-WBA and WBC Diamond king Jorge Linares in September 2017 in LA.BBN asked their panel of experts for their opinions on the undisputed lightweight clash:
Charlie Edwards
WBC super-flyweight champion
"I believe Loma wins on a unanimous points win, but luke will make it very tricky for him early on!"
Ryan Walsh
British featherweight champion
"Vasyl, he’s P4P #1 for very good reason. This will be a very technical fight and I'm sure Campbell will make it tough. He has some physical advantages in height and reach, it’s quite well known that southpaws don’t really like southpaws, but with both there respective amateur pedigrees I’m sure they’ll be well accustomed to it.
Lomachenko’s style / energy and footwork will set him apart in this fight. I see Lomachenko winning well on points."
Jack Bradley
BBN Writer
“I think Luke Campbell will actually give Lomachenko a tricky fight in the first half of the bout. Similarly to the Linares’ performance against the Ukrainian, I can see Campbell’s size making this closer than people expect it to be early on.
However, Lomachenko is a master in that ring. In terms of his technical ability, he’s as good as anyone I’ve seen box in my lifetime, and he’ll get to Campbell eventually. I’m tempted to say Campbell will hang in there and take it to the scorecards, but if he does managed that, then I’m calling a comfortable Lomachenko points victory.”
Miles Shinkwin
Former English light-heavyweight champion
"Loma has to be regarded as the best fighter in the sport right now and I honestly believe he’ll enter the conversation for being one of the best ever so Luke has a mountain to climb. There isn’t a style or tactic Loma hasn’t seen so unless Luke does something out of the ordinary I think going the 12 rounds would be an achievement. I was in a few England squads with Luke years ago so will be rooting for him to do the unthinkable."
Chris Glover
Boxing Writer
"Not as one sided as people think, but you have to go with Lomachenko based on well, him being Lomachenko. The only thing Campbell has going for him is his jab, as he will likely look to stop Lomachenko entering his rhythm and keep him at distance.
The reality is however Lomachenko is a superstar and the likelihood of him not finding a gap in the arsenal of Campbell appears to be thin. So I am going with Lomachenko via lopsided decision."
Matt Marsh
Former British super-bantamweight champion
"Vasyl Lomachenko wins, he is at the very top of the world class fighters. I can’t see anyone beating him in a long time.
My prediction is that Lomachenko wins in the first half of the fight, within six-rounds."
Kieran Gething
Welsh Area lightweight champion
"I simply think Lomachenko is too good. I can’t see anyone beating him, but Luke Campbell does have a fantastic skill set.
I feel the only way to win vs Loma is KO. And I’m not sure he can do that."
Dmitriy Salita
Promoter, Salita Promotions
"Lomachenko is a great, once in a generation boxer. Campbell is a very good world class fighter. Lomachenko's mental strength, flexibility, experience and ring IQ will show that these two fighters are in different classes. It may not end in a stoppage but I see a dominant, clear win for Lomachenko in what will be an electric night of boxing."
Mick Kane
Boxing Writer
"I'm really looking forward to this fight, to see Lomachenko fight in the UK. I would imagine the general consensus is that it will be a Lomachenko win, and I'm not going to go against that. I do think Campbell will cause him problems though. The height difference will be in Campbell's favour but Lomachenko is one of, if not the best boxer on the planet that most people will find it hard to live with.
I'd love Campbell to do it but Lomachenko by stoppage around ninth round."
Ben Day
Former Souhern Area champion
"I’ve sparred Luke before he turned pro and one thing I struggled with is his hand speed, so that could play a factor.
Both are very experienced men but I have to go with Loma as I think he’s an absolute genius and a master in the ring; his ring craft and boxing I.Q is out of this world and I even think he could stop Luke later on in the fight"
George Lacey
ITV Sport
"Lomachenko has set the bar in the sport and it’s up to the rest to catch up. Mentally, he’s so advanced on any rivals me truly lives and breathes boxing.
That said, I’m not surprised at George Groves’ confidence in Luke Campbell. The taller, rangier man in the fight could use his jab and keep it long which is the best bet Campbell has of taking this fight down the stretch.
Both have impeccable amateur careers so you’d expect some real classy boxing on show from both men. Loma, though, is just another level to anything I’ve seen in my lifetime and with histight IQ, I find it hard to make a serious case for Campbell. If the Brit keeps it long, he has a chance of upsetting Loma’s fluidity but I trust the Ukrainian to take the win and to actually stop Campbell at the O2 arena."
Steve Wood
Promoter, VIP Promotions
"Love Luke to do it but just cannot see it.
Luke has shown he is around World level but in Lomachenko you are talking elite level and that is the difference.
Luke has height and reach advantage with a great left hook to the body but they will soon be worked out by the magician and I see a stoppage around round 9 for Vasyl – hope to be proved wrong but cannot see it."
Luke Gibb
Super-lightweight prospect
“If anyone can beat Lomachenko then it’s Luke, but it’s a tall ask, but I do think they’re two best lightweights in the world, so it’s the best fight can be made at that weight.”
Aqib Tahlat
BBN Writer
"Of course Loma is favourite but I think this will be a very technical and skilled fight.
Luke Campbell is a gold Olympian and has a very good amateur pedigree and also knows Loma really well so it will be very intriguing how the fight will unfold.
I go for Loma to stop him late 8-10 rounds."
Ryan Clark
Co-Founder of buymyfight.com
"I’m a big fan of Luke Campbell. I’m also a huge fan of Lomachenko…. He is for me the no.1 P4P or at least will go on to be without doubt.
The dilemma I have is heart vs head. I’ll unfortunately have to go with my head and say Loma on a points win, which is likely no surprise.
However, I don’t feel I’m doing Campbell justice if I just leave it there without making reference to the fact he has, also, an incredible amateur record.
His performance against (who for me is another hall of famer) Linares, was under rated. Linares has made other top British and world class boxers look inferior (Except for Kevin Mitchell who was looking great until the eye cut), whereas Campbell was arguably winning at stages throughout that fight and some may even have had him ahead by a whisker, perhaps more so if that R2 knock down didn’t occur. What I’m getting at is, Campbell has given some good boxers a good hiding and/or run them damn close; so this will be for me the toughest test for Loma yet.
I know we cant use this comparison outright because styles make fights but Loma vs Linares wasn’t easy, and apart from the body shot it was touch and go for a while. I think Campbell vs Loma will be very similar. If I was Campbell, I’d use my reach for a few rounds but change tactics and go the complete opposite and box on the inside off the break. Tie Loma up and ‘release-hit-move’ before the ref breaks it. That’s the only way I can see anyone getting a shot on Lomachenko.
Either way, great fight – cant wait!"
Erol Ceylan
Promoter, Erol Ceylan Boxing
"I don’t see anybody who can beat Lomachenko. But Luke will make it a great fight."
Jordan Neild
BBN Writer
"Loma, for me. Campbell deserves his shot as much as anybody but I think he is coming up against the fighter of this generation. Luke has the ability, pedigree and size to cause Loma problems early on but I think as we reach half way Loma will take over and it will be another masterclass.
I can see a competitive fight for 5-6 rounds but fancy Loma to overwhelm Campbell down the stretch and win by stoppage, or maybe Campbell's corner pulling him out."
Bolu 'BK' Kareem
Middleweight debutant
"My heart says Campbell because he is one of us, but my mind says Lomachenko because he is arguably the P4P No.1."
Tim Rickson
Sports Agent
"Luke Campbell is a world-class fighter, who I expect will become a world champion soon, he came so close against Linares and proved he's capable.
The thing is that Lomachenko is on another level to world-class and makes world champions look poor against him and out of their depth. He is a once in a lifetime fighter.
I think Luke is probably one of very few fighters in the world that could cause him some trouble and I hope he has a good start and can go the distance, but I suspect 'NoMasChenko' may force a retirement in the championship rounds when his relentless attacks cause fatigue and a broken heart."