Former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko seeks another title Saturday when he faces George Kambosos Jr. in a battle of former title holders looking to return to the top of the sport. Their 12-round main event, with the vacant IBF lightweight title at stake, anchors the main Lomachenko vs. Kambosos fight card (8 p.m. ET) from RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. Both Kambosos and Lomachenko are former lightweight champions battling to claim the belt vacated by Devin Haney, who has since moved up to junior welterweight and went 3-0 against both fighters. Now, either Kambosos or Lomachenko will reclaim their status as a world champion and have an inside track toward more high-profile matchups.
Lomachenko is a -600 favorite (risk $600 to win $100), while Kambosos is priced at +400 in the latest Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. odds. The over/under for total rounds is 10.5, with the Over priced at -400. Before locking in any George Kombosos Jr. vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko picks, make sure you see the boxing predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Brandon Wise.
Wise, who is the combat sports editor for CBS Sports, is an experienced boxing and mixed martial arts analyst who has consistently provided winning selections for SportsLine members. For the past four years, he has hit numerous boxing selections in big-time matchups.
For example, in March, Wise called a win in Round 1 for Jake Paul (+200) against Ryan Bourland and also advised SportsLine members to take the Under 1.5 rounds (+120). Both bets connected when Paul scored a knockout toward the end of the first round. Anyone who has followed Wise's combat sports picks has already seen massive returns.
Now, with Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. on deck, Wise has studied the matchup from every angle and released confident picks for the fight. You can only see those picks at SportsLine.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. preview
For Lomachenko (17-3), Saturday's fight not only presents the opportunity for another world championship, but to prove to himself and boxing observers that he still belongs among the sport's elite. His loss to Teofimo Lopez had some observers questioning whether he had passed his prime, and he was determined to show otherwise.
Although he won three consecutive fights following the upset loss, his fight against Haney has left a bitter taste. Not because he has regrets about his performance, but he still believes the judges got the outcome wrong, an opinion shared by countless observers, and he's determined to leave no doubt even while in the opponent's home country Saturday.
"On paper, I am not an undisputed world champion," Lomachenko said. "If we talk with Teofimo (Lopez), it was a close fight. But if we are talking about Haney, it was not a close fight. I understand that I won this fight. People know and understand about this robbery."
One major motivating factor for Kambosos (21-2) is that he is likely just one defeat away from being relegated to relative obscurity in a sport that moves on quickly from athletes who have lost their marketability. Kambosos is well aware that he was already considered a "one-fight wonder" because of his upset of Lopez and hasn't come close to duplicating that performance since.
His victory over Lopez, who appeared flat and unmotivated, won Kambosos legions of fans who related to everyman demeanor and the dream that hard work and dedication could ultimately pay off with the pinnacle of success.
He earned big paydays with his fights against Haney in Australia, where massive crowds are the norm, and the passionate fans are fervent in their support of hometown athletes. But much of Kambosos' luster was lost in the lopsided defeats to Haney and a subsequent narrow decision over Maxi Hughes that many observers felt Hughes won. See who to back here.
How to make Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. picks
Wise likes the Over 10.5 rounds. He's also locked in a method-of-victory prop and a confident money-line pick. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.
Who wins George Kambosos Jr. vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, and which prop is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Brandon Wise's best bets for Saturday, all from the boxing expert who nailed Jake Paul's first-round knockout in March, and find out.
