Boxing's one-hit wonders: George Kambosos Jr. needs a win to avoid getting on the list - ESPN

Just like the music business, boxing has had its fair share of one-hit wonders. George Kambosos Jr. aims to avoid having his name join the list of those who have won a world title only to quickly lose it and fall from grace, when he faces Vasiliy Lomachenko for the vacant IBF lightweight title in Perth, Australia, on Sunday morning (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET in the U.S., ESPN /ESPN+).

For some, becoming champion is the beginning of the end as they lose the belt in a first defense and their careers then nosedive. But it is too soon to put Kambosos, 30, of Sydney, in that ignominious category just yet.

Kambosos (21-2, 10 KOs) silenced Teofimo Lopez's home crowd in New York when he won a split decision to claim three lightweight world titles in November 2021. Just over a year earlier, Lopez had produced the performance of his life to nullify the dazzling skills of Lomachenko. But as a 7-1 betting favorite against Kambosos, Lopez was caught cold and sent to the canvas in the opening round, and Kambosos then got off the canvas himself in the 10th round to take the split decision.

Kambosos didn't have long to enjoy life as champion. Seven months later in Melbourne, the Australian lost his belts in a first defense to Devin Haney by unanimous decision. To prove it wasn't a fluke, Haney did an even better job in another decision win later in 2022 back in Melbourne.

A controversial majority decision win over Maxi Hughes last year set up Kambosos for his fourth world title fight in his last five fights.

Let's take a look at some fighters that haven't done much after winning a world title.

Andy Ruiz Jr. pulled off a big shock when he stopped Anthony Joshua in Round 7 to win three world title belts in 2019 as a late substitute. Six months