PERTH - Ukrainian boxing great Vasiliy Lomachenko clinched the IBF lightweight world title on Sunday after producing a supreme performance to stop Australia's George Kambosos in the 11th round in Perth.
In the main event at a sold-out 15,000 RAC Arena, heavy favourite Lomachenko defied the rowdy home crowd and dominated throughout.
Lomachenko left the Australian bloodied and sealed the 135-pound belt in the 11th round after dropping Kambosos several times before the fight was stopped by the referee.
"I'm again world champion. I want to come back home and spend time with my family," said 36-year-old Lomachenko, who remained coy on his future.
Kambosos, a former champion, was unable to reproduce the form from his famous upset of Teofimo Lopez in 2021 at Madison Square Garden.
Both fighters had a point to prove after losing to American Devin Haney in recent years.
Kambosos, who made his ring walk to the Eminem song 'Till I Collapse', needed to rely on his formidable striking and size advantage.
He came out aggressively and attacked the body of Lomachenko, who is sometimes an unusually slow starter.
Lomachenko got back into the contest through trademark lightning foot speed and counter-punching.
The brash Kambosos was unruffled and taunted Lomachenko after trading a flurry of heavy blows to end the third round.
The partisan crowd was right behind the Australian, but southpaw Lomachenko stepped up the intensity in the middle rounds and landed several stinging left-handed jabs that rattled his opponent.
Lomachenko strengthened his grip on the fight in the latter rounds, with several hard left-handed blows leaving Kambosos with blood flowing from his right eye.
Lomachenko thought he had knocked Kambosos down in the 11th, though it was ruled a slip, but then a vicious body shot did drop the Australian for an eight count.
Several more ferocious blows prompted the referee to stop the fight after Kambosos sank to his knee in his own corner, moments before the towel came in from Kambosos's trainer.