The 135-pound weight class is once again in the spotlight. The division has shifted dramatically since Devin Haney moved to 140 pounds, leaving a trail of vacated belts and opportunity for top contenders to claim them.
Saturday will offer a new chapter for living legend Vasiliy "Hi-Tech" Lomachenko, who steps into the ring at 36 years old in Australia, where their autumn season brings shorter days and longer nights, a metaphor for the dwindling opportunities in Lomachenko's storied career. Yet, Lomachenko's advanced career stage does little to cast a shadow over his fighting spirit, as he will be looking to reclaim the vacant IBF lightweight title against George "Ferocious" Kambosos Jr., the former lightweight unified champion from Sydney (ESPN, ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET).
This bout is beaming with "styles make fights" poetic layers. In November 2021, Kambosos defeated Teofimo Lopez, who had handed Lomachenko his second loss as a professional in 2020. Lomachenko's longtime, thus-far unattained goal of further etching his name in boxing history by claiming the undisputed lightweight championship is becoming less and less realistic. Yet, his aspiration glows, as he is willing to travel Down Under for one piece of the undisputed throne. A victory in Australia would move him closer to his dream.