Watch highlights of Lomachencko's unanimous points win.
Sunday 1 September 2019 21:08, UK
Luke Campbell fell short in a courageous attempt to dethrone the modern great Vasiliy Lomachenko in Saturday night's world lightweight title fight.
Taylor vs Prograis & Chisora vs Parker on Box Office
Lomachenko ultimately won a one-sided unanimous decision but Hull's Campbell was more than worthy of sharing the ring with the world's finest fighter - he bravely climbed off the canvas and, during one brief moment where time stood still, he hurt his esteemed visitor and threatened an upset.
The brilliantly talented Lomachenko added the WBC lightweight belt to his existing WBA and WBO versions in a treasure trove that features world titles in three weight divisions and gold medals at back-to-back Olympics.
But he was made to seriously work for the latest accolade in an amazing career - his greatness has been compared to Muhammad Ali by Bob Arum, who promoted both men 53 years apart.
Lomachenko took a long, hard look at what his fellow Olympic champion had to offer in the opening round - the answer, in that period at least, was an assertive stance and a cuffing left hand.
The Ukrainian's jab began to creep through in the second but Campbell was still remaining compact.
Lomachenko snapped Campbell's head back with a sharp left hand in the third. The Brit, to his credit, kept his composure but he was being forced to burn energy by Lomachenko's pressure.
Campbell thumped home a couple of body shots, to which Lomachenko nodded with approval and responded with a similar punch.
Lomachenko came within seconds of winning the fight in the fifth round - he suddenly increased the pace and stung Campbell with a body shot. As the bell rang to save him, Campbell was struggling to stand with his back to the ropes.
Four consecutive opponents had withdrawn from fighting Lomachenko between rounds but Campbell used the 60-second reprieve to regain his breath and his belief. He thought he landed to the body but Lomachenko shook his head.
The stunning moment where the unthinkable almost happened came in the seventh when Campbell caught Lomachenko unaware with a right hook. The great man was hurt and needed to hold on momentarily but ended the round on top, blasting back with a right hook of his own.
Irked by his moment of weakness Lomachenko began trying to out-gun his bigger opponent at close-quarters in a battle of wills as well as skills.
That tactic, at times, enabled Campbell to dig to his body.
Lomachenko knocked Campbell down in the penultimate round when body shots wilted him but couldn't finish the job. Lomachenko sought the knockout in the last round and Campbell, desperate and hurt, kept his feet by illegally bundling his opponent over.
The scores of 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109 reflected Lomachenko's superiority and improved his record to 14-1.
Campbell's wait to become a world champion continues - two years ago he lost a split decision to Jorge Linares.
"My time will come," Campbell vowed.
Lomachenko called for a shot at the IBF lightweight belt next - winning that would make him the undisputed champion. Richard Commey defends the IBF title against Teofimo Lopez later this year.
"We're looking to win the fourth belt but Loma has told me he can't wait to come back to the UK to fight here again," his promoter Arum said.
"We're going to fight the best fighters at featherweight, the best fighters at super-featherweight and the best fighters at lightweight."
Lomachenko concluded: "I promise I will come back to the UK."
