Predictions, how to watch fight

On Saturday, Vasiliy Lomachenko will be fighting George Kambosos Jr. and duking it out with Father Time.

He is a heavy favorite entering the lightweight bout in Perth, Australia, with the IBF lightweight world championship at stake. But at 36, the Ukrainian star may be in decline.

It’s no ordinary 36. Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, started boxing at 4, logged 397 amateur fights and has a pro record of 17-3 with 11 knockouts.

“When I beat Lomachenko, there’ll be no more road for him to go,” Kambosos said this week. “This is retirement for him, I truly believe it.’’

But the 30-year-old Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) will be fighting not only Lomachenko but for championship-caliber credibility.

After handing Teofimo Lopez his first loss in 2021, Kambosos suffered back-to-back, one-sided losses to Devin Haney followed by an unimpressive majority decision victory over Maxi Hughes.

Lomachenko, by contrast, lost a controversial unanimous decision to Haney a year ago. The fight against Kambosos is his first since.

“It will be very, very interesting for both (of us),’’ Lomachenko said. “It’ll be interesting for all fans of boxing.”

Nina Hughes vs. Cherneka Johnson: Round-by-round analysis

Breaking down the bantamweight fight:

Round 1: Hughes comes out swinging, looking a lot younger than 41. Johnson responds with a left jab and is capitalizing on her reach advantage. Hughes 10, Johnson 9.

Round 2: Hughes looks wild but she’s landing. Johnson looks more controlled. Maybe too controlled as Hughes swings away and strikes often enough. Hughes 20, Johnson 18.

Round 3: Hughes just relentless. Can she continue this pace? Johnson methodically looking for an opening, and Hughes does what she does – fire away. Hughes 30, Johnson 27.

Round 4: Johnson grows more assertive, and Hughes makes her pay with a right hand. Hughes still getting the better of these exchanges. Hughes loses her mouthguard – about the only thing that can slow her as the referee walks the equipment to Hughes’ corner and its re-inserted. Hughes 40, Johnson 36.

Round 5: Johnson sticking with her strategy – patiently picking her spots. Hughes not complying as she stays active. But Johnson strikes hard at the end of the round. Hughes 49, Johnson 46.

Round 6: It’s Déjà vu. Johnson landing jabs. Hughes answers with a flurry. But Johnson may be muscling through and Hughes tiring. Hughes 58, Johnson 56.

Round 7: Johnson landing jabs but fails to follow up with right hands. Hughes digging in, resuming her frenetic pace. Hughes lands a hard right and draws blood from Johnson. Hughes 68, Johnson 65.

Round 8: Johnson stalks and Hughes pushes back. Now Hughes relents. Johnson lands her best punch of the fight – a powerful right. But she’s bleeding badly and Hughes is unloading flurries of punches. Hughes 78, Johnson 74.

Round 9: Johnson the aggressor again, taking shots as she powers forward. Hughes’ face may tell an important story – lots of swelling. Hughes 87, Johnson 84.

Round 10: Johnson storming forward. Landing punches with more authority, but Hughes with greater frequency. Hughes 96, Johnson 94.

Pedro Guevara upsets Andrew Moloney

Mexico’s Pedro Guevara, a heavy underdog heading into the bout, upset Andrew Moloney of Australia by split decision in their 12-round super flyweight fight.

Guevara, 34, attacked Moloney’s body, landed about 25 more punches and won over the judges. They scored the fight 115-113, 113-116, 115-113 in favor of Guevara, who won the WBC interim world super flyweight title.

Angry about the result, Moloney, 33, abruptly announced his retirement during an in-ring interview. His record fell to 26-4 and Guevara’s improved to 42-4-1.

Andrew Moloney vs. Pedro Guevara: Round-by-round analysis

Breaking down the super flyweight fight:

Round 1: Moloney comes out active. Guevara is game. Boxers trading lots of punches, none electric. Moloney 10, Guevara 9.

Round 2: Moloney initiates the action again. Delivers a solid right, then eats an uppercut. Moloney continues to throw punches in exchange for taking them, too. Guevara lands a nice combo, and the right lands hard. Moloney 19, Guevara 19.

Round 3: Neither fighter backing up, content to trade punches. Guevara working the body. Moloney targeting the head. Moloney pouring it on late. Moloney 29, Guevara 28.

Round 4: A bevvy of punches being exchanged. Seeing no KO power. But Moloney lands punches square. Guevara responds with a solid uppercut, then drives left hooks into Moloney’s body. Moloney 38, Guevara 38.

Round 5: Guevara still targeting the body, and Moloney the head. Now Guevara snaps back Moloney’s head with a straight right, later lands a nice uppercut. Guevara 48, Moloney 47.

Round 6: The pace continues. So does the theme. Both fighters landing punches, neither fighter staggered. Guevara still working the body, and Moloney’s punches looked crisper. Guevara 57, Moloney 57.

Round 7: A headbutt, second of the night. No blood drawn. Both leaning into left hooks. Compubox says Guevara landing slightly more punches. But to my eye, Moloney looking slightly better now. Moloney 67, Guevara 66.

Round 8: Still a quick pace here. Guevara initiating the action. Guevara scoring with counterpunches. Moloney firing back, but too late to win the round. Moloney 76, Guevara 76.

Round 9: Hey bettors, the price to win on Moloney, a heavy favorite, is plummeting as Guevara continues to dig into Moloney’s body. Guevara now aiming upstairs too – and landing. Guevara 86, Moloney 85.

Round 10: Nice exchange here at the outset of the round. Guevara looking strong and Moloney appears to be tiring. I repeat, appears. Guevara hitting the bull’s-eye and swinging with force. Guevara 96, Moloney 94.

Round 11: Moloney opening up. Worried he may be trailing on the scorecards? Guevara the more aggressive fighter. Moloney grinning. Not sure now’s the time to be smiling. Guevara 106, Moloney 103.

Round 12: Guevara lands a flurry of punches. Follows up with more. Moloney landing now. Guevara 115, Moloney 113.

Matt Verri, The Evening Standard: “Kambosos will be roared on by thousands of Australian fans, but he cannot match Lomachenko if this turns into a tactical bout at distance.” Prediction: Lomachenko by unanimous decision.
Norm Frauenheim, The Ring: “Lomachenko has a chance to remind the world and perhaps himself that he still possesses much of the skill so aptly defined by his original nickname: Hi-Tech.” Prediction: TKO, 10th round.
Alex Ballentine, Bleacher Report: “Ultimately, it’s hard to see Lomachenko not winning this one unless he’s fallen off the age cliff.” Prediction: Lomachenko by unanimous decision.
Shawn Porter, former world champion: “(Lomachenko) is very precise. He’s a sharpshooter in there. One of the very few precise punchers that has a heckuva power in both hands.’’ Prediction: Lomachenko by decision.
Teddy Atlas, boxing analyst: “I think it’s going to be a competitive fight. …The question mark for me is, how much does Loma have left?’’ Prediction: Lomachenko wins

First appeared on www.usatoday.com

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