It was actually the Lionhearts who got off to an early lead as their Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Sean McGoldrick defeated Ukrainian Ivan Ilnytskyy in the bantamweight contest on a split decision.

But that proved as good as it would get for the Lionhearts as Lomachenko then took to the stage against Samuel Maxwell in lightweight bout.

The 24-year-old, the double Olympic and double world champion, proved far too strong for his opponent as he stormed to an easy win before Ukraine's Olexandr Stretskyy defeated Aston Brown at middleweight to make it 2-1.


It soon became 3-1 as London 2012 bronze medallist Oleksandr Gvozdyk secured victory for the home side with a comfortable win over the Lionhearts' experienced Swede Babacar Kamara at light heavyweight before Usyk closed the show in style at heavyweight.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian, who won gold at London 2012 less than a year after taking victory at the 2011 Wold Championships in Baku, managed to hold off Lionhearts' giant Tongan heavyweight Uaine Fa with an entertaining points win to give his side a 4-1 win.

The Lionhearts remain, though, ahead of the Ukraine Otamans in Group B of the WSB as they retain their second place position with nine points following wins against USA Knockouts, Italia Thunder and the German Eagles.

Meanwhile the Ukrainian franchise has moved-up to third with eight points from two wins and two losses.

The teams are due to meet again in the home return for the Lionhearts at York Hall in London on March 1 while the British franchise next host the USA Knockouts at the same venue next Thursday (January 17).

Ukraine travel to Almaty to face Astana Arlans Kazakhstan next.

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