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BOXING ROYALTY

Lomachenko will join Ali, Tyson, Golovkin and Co as some of the best ever seen on British shores

THERE are very few in boxing’s family who don’t recognise Vasiliy Lomachenko as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world today.

The general view on both sides of the Atlantic is Loma has exceptional hand-speed, timing, accuracy, creativity, athleticism, dazzling footwork, razor-sharp reflexes and punch-power.

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Vasiliy Lomachenko arrives on British shores as surely the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world right nowCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Vasyl Lomachenko performs famous party tricks at open workout ahead of Luke Campbell fight

It isn’t often we get all-time greats in their prime coming to our shores.

So I thought it would be fun to select ten elite fighters I’ve been privileged to see in the flesh in British rings over the last 50-odd years.

June 18, 1963, Wembley Stadium

The Greatest made the first of his three visits to London when as a 21-year-old Cassius Clay he stopped Henry Cooper on cuts in round five.

September 22, 1964, Empire Pool, Wembley

Emile Griffith gave brave Welshman Brian Curtis a 15-round thrashing to retain his world welterweight title.

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March 28, 1972, Empire Pool, Wembley

Cuban-born Mexican Jose Napoles — known as Mantequilla because he was as smooth as butter — had no trouble knocking out Eastender Ralph Charles in the seventh to keep his world welterweight crown.

September 26, 1972, Empire Pool, Wembley

Bob Foster, arguably the greatest light-heavyweight, KO’d brave Chris Finnegan in the 14th round — voted Ring magazine’s fight of the year.

July 2, 1973, Earls Court, London

Smokin’ Joe Frazier, having lost his world heavyweight title to George Foreman, outpointed Joe Bugner over 12 torrid rounds.

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September 27, 1980, Empire Pool, Wembley

Marvin Hagler cut Alan Minter’s face to ribbons in less than three rounds to begin his seven-year reign as world middleweight king.

June 20, 1981, Empire Pool, Wembley

Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello battered gallant Scot Jim Watt to a bloody 15-round points defeat to win world lightweight title.

Muhammad Ali made three visits to London, beating Henry Cooper at Wembley in his first in 1963Credit: PA:Press Association

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April 3, 1999, Royal Albert Hall, London

Marco Antonio Barrera, the WBO world super-bantamweight champ wasn’t among us long. Liverpool’s Paul Loyd retired after one round after taking terrible punishment.

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January 29, 2000, Manchester Arena

Mike Tyson was in action for just 4min 41secs in his two visits here. Knocking out Julius Francis in two rounds and Lou Savarese in one at Hampden Park.

September 20, 2016, O2 Arena, London

Gennady Golovkin’s ferocious punching broke Kell Brook’s eye socket before stopping him in the fifth to retain his middleweight crown.

Mike Tyson did not hang around during his time in the UK, crushing both Julius Francis and Lou SavareseCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Gennady Golovkin was simply too good for Kell Brook when the middleweight pair stepped into the ring togetherCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Vasyl Lomachenko v Luke Campbell - Live stream, date, start time, TV channel and undercard
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