LONDON — Vasiliy Lomachenko continued his march through boxing’s lightweight division on August 31, 2019, delivering a masterclass at the O2 Arena in a hard-fought unanimous decision over Britain’s Luke Campbell to unify the WBC, WBA, WBO, and The Ring titles.

While the judges’ scorecards—119-108 twice and 118-109—highlighted the Ukrainian’s dominance, the numbers tell only part of the story. Campbell, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist and hometown favourite, displayed grit and moments of real quality in a bout that tested Lomachenko more than most.

Coming into the night, Lomachenko was a heavy favourite, with the bookmakers giving Campbell little chance. Yet the challenger didn’t read that script. Using his height and reach, Campbell started strong, keeping Lomachenko on the outside through the early rounds. But as the bout progressed, the Ukrainian’s renowned ring IQ began to show.

By the middle rounds, Lomachenko had shifted gears, slipping inside Campbell’s range and ripping sharp combinations to the body and head. Round five proved pivotal: a brutal flurry from Lomachenko had Campbell reeling against the ropes, clearly hurt and saved only by the bell. It was a moment that nearly ended the contest.

Credit to Campbell—he weathered the storm, adjusted, and found a spark in round seven. A well-timed right hook caught Lomachenko clean and briefly stunned the champion, offering a glimmer of hope to the British fans. But Lomachenko, ever composed, responded with greater urgency and resumed control in the following rounds.

The defining moment came in the 11th when Lomachenko dropped Campbell with a combination to the body followed by a clean shot to the head. The Brit beat the count, battled to the final bell, and preserved his pride, but the outcome was no longer in question.

With the win, Lomachenko improved to 14-1 and added the WBC strap to his already impressive collection. A three-division champion with two Olympic golds, he further solidified his position as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite.

For Campbell, now a two-time world title challenger, this was a brave stand on the biggest stage. He didn’t win the belts, but he earned respect—and reminded the world that heart still matters in this brutal sport.