George Kambosos is readying to become the “greatest fighter in Australian boxing history” – surpassing even the likes of Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu and Johnny Famechon – by upsetting Ukrainian megastar Vasiliy Lomachenko for the IBF lightweight title Down Under.

After months of anticipation, Kambosos finally fronted a press conference in Perth on Wednesday to announce he will be challenging Lomachenko for the vacant IBF strap on Sunday, May 12 inside RAC Arena.

The Australian will also have his IBO title, won against Englishman Maxi Hughes, on the line.

Flanked on stage by his father and manager Jim, the 30-year-old described his showdown with ‘Loma’ as the biggest fight in Australian boxing history, while also stressing he would earn himself a place in the Hall of Fame with victory.

Kambosos snr agreed, saying that should his son beat the three-division champion “he’ll be known as Australia’s greatest fighter ever”.

Attending the press conference himself via satellite, Lomachenko welcomed the showdown saying: “This is my next chance to be a world champion again”.

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Elsewhere, American promoters Bob Arum and Lou Dibella also both heaped praise on the West Australian blockbuster, with Dibella echoing Team Kambosos’s suggestion about the Hall Of Fame doors opening should he prove victorious.

Back in 2021, Kambosos shocked the world when he upset Teofimo Lopez to claim the IBF, WBO, WBA and Ring lightweight titles.

Since then however, the Sydneysider has lost twice to American Devin Haney – the only losses on an otherwise perfect record – before then winning the IBO strap in controversial circumstances against Hughes last July.

Yet speaking at Wednesday’s press event, Kambosos stressed he was now a completely overhauled fighter under the guidance of his new Russian coach, Anton Kadushin, and suggesting this latest showdown was part of his “destiny”.

“This fight rejuvenates my career,” the former world champion said.

“This gives me my redemption.

“Yes, I’ve been in the big fights. Fought the best.

“I’ve won the big fights, lost the big fights.

“But for me this is about legacy, it’s not about anything else.

“It’s not about money, this is not about world titles.

“And it’s the same for Vasiliy Lomachenko.

“He’s made money, I have made money. He’s won belts, I have won belts.

“This fight is legacy.

“Two orthodox warriors coming together for a big, big fight.

“Our careers are on the line here. Hall of Fame is on the line here. Legacies are on the line here.

“And I believe this is my destiny.

“This is a different Kambosos you will see on May 12.”

Asked about what was on the line for his son, Kambosos snr added: “He’ll be known as Australia’s greatest fighter ever and a Hall of Famer as well.

“Legacy is a big thing for George.

“He’s fought the greatest guys as we all know.

“And Vasiliy Lomachenko is one of the greats. Nobody is going to turn around and say anything bad about him.

“This is why we’re so eager for this fight to take place.”

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Asked about once more becoming a unified champion, Lomachenko said: “Right now, my goal is to be world champion again.

“And after (I do that) I can start to think about undisputed again.”

Asked how Kambosos’s two losses against Haney compared to his own fight against the American, most recently – a contentious decision loss last May – he continued: “It was two different fights.

“Two different styles.

“If we’re talking about my fight, I didn’t lose in my opinion.

“If you’re talking about Kambosos-Haney, Kambosos had two chances and he lost.”

To which the Aussie responded: “I respect what he says.

“And I’m not here to say who won, who lost.

“But if we do go to the past – and I don’t want to be disrespectful here – while I lost to Devin Haney, there was a guy who fought Teofimo Lopez and you had your chance as well.

“Unfortunately you didn’t get your chance there, didn’t take your chance.

“But I did.

“But now May 12 is a new day, two warriors coming to fight. This is what matters.”

Told amid what was almost all pleasantries that this certainly appeared a different build up to his consecutive Australian showcases against Haney, Kambosos continued: “Me and Lomachenko are the same, we’re warriors.

“We come to fight. We’re at the same place.

“We don’t need to disrespect or go overboard.

“The names are here.

“Lomachenko, Kambosos.

“Kambosos, Lomachenko.

“What is at stake here sells this fight.

“This is the biggest fight in Australian history.

“Yes, I’ve had some big fights.

“But this here is legacy, destiny for both guys.

“So we don’t need to go overboard or create any storylines or headlines.

“This is two warriors coming together to fight … one of us to continue our career, and one us is going to go not where we want to go.

“A true war is coming to Perth.”

The old man agreed, adding: “Western Australia you’re getting the biggest fight in Australian history right now”.

“I’ve never stepped away from a challenge,” George Kambosos said when asked initially about why he was taking this fight.

“I always want to fight the best.

“And the man, Vasiliy Lomachenko, is a guy that we’ve looked at for a very long time.

“A guy that I’ve been watching since a young kid.

“The guy is a legend and the respect we have for him is huge.

“And we have been meaning to fight many times.

“So to have it finalised now, extraordinary.

“I’m very motivated for this fight and we can’t wait.

“But most of all we’re excited to bring this megafight … another megafight that Kambosos brings to Australia.”