Vasilily Lomachenko has made the most of 15 professional fights.
One title or another was at stake in all but one of his pro bouts. He has won five major titles in three divisions. He has climbed to the top – or nearly so – on all credible pound-for-pound lists. He’s already a first-ballot Hall of Famer, especially if you include his amateur career.
And the lightweight beltholder is about to take part in his biggest fight, a title-unification showdown against Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It’s difficult to single out five victories that define Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) more than the others. Again, he has packed a number of them into his relatively short pro career. However, these five fights certainly played a key role in defining him (in chronological order):
***
HAN SOON-CHUL
Date: Aug. 12, 2012
Where: ExCel Exhibition Centre, London
At stake: Olympic gold medal
Records: Both fighters 3-0
Result: Lomachenko 19-9
Background: Lomachenko already was believed by many to be the best amateur boxer of all time before the lightweight final of the London Games. This victory merely sealed the deal. “Hi-Tech” won the featherweight gold medal four years earlier, earning the Val Barker Trophy as the best boxer of the competition in the process. In London, he outpointed Wellington Romero 15-3, Felix Verdejo 14-9 and Yasniel Toledo 14-11 to reach the final. And, in the gold medal match, he jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the first of three rounds and never looked back, winning 19-9 to cap a magnificent amateur career by earning back-to-back Olympic titles. “Lomachenko hardly broke a sweat in the gold medal bout,” the English-language The Korea Herald reported. He didn’t win the Val Barker award the second time but he made one thing clear: No one ever did it better. He reportedly finished his amateur with a record of 396-3. Yes, 396-3.
***
GARY RUSSELL JR.
Date: June 21, 2014
Where: StubHub Center, Carson, Calif.
At stake: Vacant WBO featherweight title
Records: Lomachenko 1-1 (1 KO), Russell 6-0 (4 KOs)
Result: Lomachenko MD 12
Background: Lomachenko wanted to make history by fighting for – and winning – a world title in his first fight. That didn’t happen. Instead, he received the opportunity to fight for the vacant WBO 126-pound belt in his second fight, losing a split-decision to arguably dirty-fighting veteran Orlando Salido. He got another chance in his next fight. And he took advantage this time, outclassing gifted fellow Olympian Gary Russell Jr. to win what should’ve been a unanimous decision and the same title after Salido was stripped. That equaled the record of Thai Saensak Muangsurin, who won the WBC junior welterweight title in his third fight in 1975. And it remains Russell’s only loss in his successful career. No one was surprised that Lomachenko won a title so quickly, which speaks to his reputation. And, as we know, he was only getting started.
***
ROMAN MARTINEZ
Date: June 11, 2016
Where: Madison Square Garden Theater, New York
At stake: Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight title
Records: Lomachenko 5-1 (3 KOs), Martinez 29-2-3 (17 KOs)
Result: Lomachenko KO 5
Background: Lomachenko successfully defended his 126-pound titles three times and then moved up to 130 to challenge for Roman Martinez’s belt. The Puerto Rican wasn’t the best technician but he was a rough, tough costumer with a number of important victories, including one over Salido to win his belt. Still, he was overwhelmed by Lomachenko’s superior skills and ultimately his punching power. He landed a left-right combination that put a beaten Martinez on his back and finished him, giving him a title in a second division in a record seven fights. The winner said afterward that he liked Olympic boxing in part because you fought one good opponent after another. He reiterated his desire to continue doing that as a pro. “I want to line up all the best fighters at 130 and see who the best fighter is,” he said.
***
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
Date: Dec. 9, 2017
Where: Madison Square Garden Theater, New York
At stake: Lomachenko’s WBO junior lightweight title
Records: Lomachenko 9-1 (7 KOs), Rigondeaux 17-0 (11 KOs)
Result: Lomachenko KO 6
Background: If Lomachenko has a rival for the title of Greatest Amateur Ever, it’s probably the Cuban, who also had a ridiculous amateur record (463-12) and won two gold medals. And Rigo was undefeated as a pro going into the fight, with a number of impressive victories. One problem the challenger faced beyond Lomachenko’s legendary ability: He moved up two weight classes for the fight, which was fascinating because of the fighters’ background but an enormous challenge for Rigondeaux. It didn’t well for him. Lomachenko had his way with his rival, forcing him to quit on his stool after the sixth round. Rigo claimed to have an injured hand but he might’ve been looking for a way out. It was that bad. Rigondeaux landed only 15 punches, 2½ per round. Said promoter Bob Arum: “Listen, the only thing I can say is you guys are seeing something really special.” Indeed we were.
***
JORGE LINARES
Date: May 12, 2018
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
At stake: Linares’s WBA lightweight title
Records: Lomachenko 10-1 (8 KOs), Linares 44-3 (27 KOs)
Result: Lomachenko KO 10
Background: Lomachenko’s victory over Linares, his first fight at 135 pounds, was significant for more than one reason. One, Linares is an excellent, experience boxer. And, two, he’s naturally bigger than Lomachenko. That combination proved to be a significant challenge for the Ukrainian. Linares got off to a quick start, fighting Lomachenko on even terms in the first half of the fight. And he put Lomachenko down in Round 6. Then Lomachenko took charge, outboxing Linares the next few rounds before stopping him with a body shot at Round 10. Lomachenko demonstrated in this fight that he could overcome adversity to beat a good opponent. And he made history one more time, becoming a three-division champion more quickly than anyone else – 12 fights. The record had been held by Australian Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech, who turned the trick in 20 fights.