Report: Guillermo Rigondeaux burned his eyes in a cooking accident on Thursday, ESPN is reporting.
Guillermo Rigondeaux lost 80% of his vision – at least temporarily – when a pressure cooker exploded Thursday, ESPN is reporting.
The 41-year-old Cuban was preparing black beans when boiling water splattered into his eyes and on his chest. He reportedly burned both of his corneas.
He was treated at a hospital in Miami, near his home, and released.
ESPN learned of the accident from the former champion’s manager, Alex Boronte, who said he was told Rigondeaux could regain his site over time. He can see light and shadows, Boronte said.
“He’s only done it a million times,” Boronte told ESPN, referring to the bean dish. “They make bombs out of [pressure cookers]. If one of those beans clogs up where the steam is going to go out, it’s like a bomb. It could have killed him.”
Boronte went on: “The next week to 10 days is really going to define his fighting career and his future because that’s when the cornea needs to regenerate itself and he can see or not. But gathering from the last 24 hours, he’s doing really good.”
Rigondeaux (20-3, 13 KOs) is coming off back-to-back losses to bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero and relative unknown Vincent Astrolabio. The latter fight took place on Feb. 26.
“He was scheduled to fight before the year’s over, sometime in August, so the next 72 hours are the most important,” Boronte said.” “He’s a little depressed seeing the decline in his ability, but it’s mostly psychological.”
Report: Guillermo Rigondeaux burned his eyes in a cooking accident on Thursday, ESPN is reporting.
Guillermo Rigondeaux lost 80% of his vision – at least temporarily – when a pressure cooker exploded Thursday, ESPN is reporting.
The 41-year-old Cuban was preparing black beans when boiling water splattered into his eyes and on his chest. He reportedly burned both of his corneas.
He was treated at a hospital in Miami, near his home, and released.
ESPN learned of the accident from the former champion’s manager, Alex Boronte, who said he was told Rigondeaux could regain his site over time. He can see light and shadows, Boronte said.
“He’s only done it a million times,” Boronte told ESPN, referring to the bean dish. “They make bombs out of [pressure cookers]. If one of those beans clogs up where the steam is going to go out, it’s like a bomb. It could have killed him.”
Boronte went on: “The next week to 10 days is really going to define his fighting career and his future because that’s when the cornea needs to regenerate itself and he can see or not. But gathering from the last 24 hours, he’s doing really good.”
Rigondeaux (20-3, 13 KOs) is coming off back-to-back losses to bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero and relative unknown Vincent Astrolabio. The latter fight took place on Feb. 26.
“He was scheduled to fight before the year’s over, sometime in August, so the next 72 hours are the most important,” Boronte said.” “He’s a little depressed seeing the decline in his ability, but it’s mostly psychological.”
John Riel Casimero outpointed Guillermo Rigondeaux in a snoozer Saturday night in Carson, Calif.
Having trouble sleeping? Watch a replay of Saturday’s fight between John Riel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Casimero was pleased to leave the ring at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., with a split-decision victory and his 118-pound title but it wasn’t a particularly good night for anyone, most notably the fans.
The fighters combined to land 91 total punches in the 12-round fight, an average of 7.6 per round, according to CompuBox. Neither fighter landed in double digits in any round.
The pattern of the fight was the same throughout, the fit 40-year-old Rigondeaux pedaling around the ring on his well-oiled bicycle and throwing punches only here and there as those on hand booed. Casimero, normally a busy fighter, chasing the defensive wizard from Cuba but never really able to cut off the ring and unload his dangerous combinations.
In the end, the judges had as difficult a time as Casimero as it was impossible to predict who might win after the final bell. This is what they decided: Tim Cheatham scored it for Rigondeaux 115-113 but Robert Hoyle (117-111) and Daniel Sandoval (116-112) thought Casimero won.
Cheatham obviously thought Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs) landed just enough counter punches to eke it out. Hoyle and Sandoval evidently rewarded Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) for his aggression.
Casimero, who had stopped his previous six opponents, was happy – and apparently relieved – when the decision was announced.
“My expectations were for a knockout,” he said. “Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.”
Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion who has never been an entertaining fighter, understands that his style isn’t pleasing but he believes it’s effective. He thought he deserved to win the fight, which would’ve given him a third world title.
“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring,” said Rigondeaux, who has no plans to retire. “I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win. I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them.
“I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know. You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the lighter weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”
Casimero can now move on from the Cuban nightmare. He had a three-man hit list going into the fight, including Rigondeaux and two fellow titleholders.
“I had a three-fight plan,” he said enthusiastically. “First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him. Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”
Casimero used fingers to count down Rigondeaux and the other two prospective foes, saving his middle finger for Inoue.
Those watching on Saturday night might’ve given the same to Casimero and Rigondeaux.
In preliminary fights, Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Emanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was declared a no-contest after the fighters’ heads collided and injured Rodriguez seconds into the bantamweight title eliminator. The bout ended after only 16 seconds.
And, in the Showtime opener, former titleholder Rau’shee Warren (19-3, 5 KOs) stopped Damien Vazquez (15-3-1, 8 KOs) in the second round to re-assert himself as a viable 118-pound contender.
John Riel Casimero outpointed Guillermo Rigondeaux in a snoozer Saturday night in Carson, Calif.
Having trouble sleeping? Watch a replay of Saturday’s fight between John Riel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Casimero was pleased to leave the ring at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., with a split-decision victory and his 118-pound title but it wasn’t a particularly good night for anyone, most notably the fans.
The fighters combined to land 91 total punches in the 12-round fight, an average of 7.6 per round, according to CompuBox. Neither fighter landed in double digits in any round.
The pattern of the fight was the same throughout, the fit 40-year-old Rigondeaux pedaling around the ring on his well-oiled bicycle and throwing punches only here and there as those on hand booed. Casimero, normally a busy fighter, chasing the defensive wizard from Cuba but never really able to cut off the ring and unload his dangerous combinations.
In the end, the judges had as difficult a time as Casimero as it was impossible to predict who might win after the final bell. This is what they decided: Tim Cheatham scored it for Rigondeaux 115-113 but Robert Hoyle (117-111) and Daniel Sandoval (116-112) thought Casimero won.
Cheatham obviously thought Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs) landed just enough counter punches to eke it out. Hoyle and Sandoval evidently rewarded Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) for his aggression.
Casimero, who had stopped his previous six opponents, was happy – and apparently relieved – when the decision was announced.
“My expectations were for a knockout,” he said. “Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.”
Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion who has never been an entertaining fighter, understands that his style isn’t pleasing but he believes it’s effective. He thought he deserved to win the fight, which would’ve given him a third world title.
“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring,” said Rigondeaux, who has no plans to retire. “I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win. I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them.
“I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know. You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the lighter weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”
Casimero can now move on from the Cuban nightmare. He had a three-man hit list going into the fight, including Rigondeaux and two fellow titleholders.
“I had a three-fight plan,” he said enthusiastically. “First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him. Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”
Casimero used fingers to count down Rigondeaux and the other two prospective foes, saving his middle finger for Inoue.
Those watching on Saturday night might’ve given the same to Casimero and Rigondeaux.
In preliminary fights, Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs) vs. Emanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) was declared a no-contest after the fighters’ heads collided and injured Rodriguez seconds into the bantamweight title eliminator. The bout ended after only 16 seconds.
And, in the Showtime opener, former titleholder Rau’shee Warren (19-3, 5 KOs) stopped Damien Vazquez (15-3-1, 8 KOs) in the second round to re-assert himself as a viable 118-pound contender.
Bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero hopes Guillermo Rigondeaux comes to fight this Saturday in Carson, Calif.
Guillermo Rigondeaux has always been a safety-first boxing savant who relies on skill over power.
That changed a bit in his recent fights, in which the 40-year-old Cuban has been willing at times to stand his ground and exchange punches with his opponents.
WBO bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero hopes the latter Rigondeaux shows up when they fight Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Showtime).
If Rigondeaux refuses to engage, Casimero’s task could be difficult and the fight might be boring. If he trades shots with the champ, he opens himself up to danger.
“I know that I can make this an easy fight for myself,” Casimero said. “I want him to have some guts and be the exciting fighter he’s shown recently. It will be better for the fans and it will really prove who is the best.”
Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) has already proved a great deal. The Filipino has won world titles in three divisions, making him one of top little men in the sport.
And he’s on a roll. He has won six consecutive fights — all by knockout — since he lost a decision to Jonas Sultan in a title eliminator in 2017. He last fought in September, when he stopped Duke Micah in three rounds.
A victory over the well-regarded Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs) would further enhance his reputation and set up even bigger fights, perhaps against countryman and WBC 118-pound champ Nonito Donaire.
“I want to show that I’m strong and can beat any tough opponent,” Casimero said. “A win over Rigondeaux will solidify me as one of, if not the best, fighter in the bantamweight division.
“My goal is to take care of business on Saturday night, then go after the scared Nonito Donaire.”
Bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero hopes Guillermo Rigondeaux comes to fight this Saturday in Carson, Calif.
Guillermo Rigondeaux has always been a safety-first boxing savant who relies on skill over power.
That changed a bit in his recent fights, in which the 40-year-old Cuban has been willing at times to stand his ground and exchange punches with his opponents.
WBO bantamweight titleholder John Riel Casimero hopes the latter Rigondeaux shows up when they fight Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Showtime).
If Rigondeaux refuses to engage, Casimero’s task could be difficult and the fight might be boring. If he trades shots with the champ, he opens himself up to danger.
“I know that I can make this an easy fight for myself,” Casimero said. “I want him to have some guts and be the exciting fighter he’s shown recently. It will be better for the fans and it will really prove who is the best.”
Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) has already proved a great deal. The Filipino has won world titles in three divisions, making him one of top little men in the sport.
And he’s on a roll. He has won six consecutive fights — all by knockout — since he lost a decision to Jonas Sultan in a title eliminator in 2017. He last fought in September, when he stopped Duke Micah in three rounds.
A victory over the well-regarded Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs) would further enhance his reputation and set up even bigger fights, perhaps against countryman and WBC 118-pound champ Nonito Donaire.
“I want to show that I’m strong and can beat any tough opponent,” Casimero said. “A win over Rigondeaux will solidify me as one of, if not the best, fighter in the bantamweight division.
“My goal is to take care of business on Saturday night, then go after the scared Nonito Donaire.”
Here are five fights that helped define Vasiliy Lomachenko.
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
Vasilily Lomachenko celebrates his second Olympic gold medal. Scott Heavey / Getty Images
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.
Lomachenko (left) won a title in his third pro fight vs. Gary Russell Jr. Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
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
Lomachenko stopped Roman Martinez to win a title in a second division. Photo / Frank Franklin II
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
A battle of two-time Olympic champions turned into a wipe out. AP Photo / Adam Hunger
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
Lomachenko (right) overcame a spirited challenge from Jorge Linares. Al Bello / Getty Images
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.
Here are five fights that helped define Vasiliy Lomachenko.
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
Vasilily Lomachenko celebrates his second Olympic gold medal. Scott Heavey / Getty Images
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.
Lomachenko (left) won a title in his third pro fight vs. Gary Russell Jr. Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
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
Lomachenko stopped Roman Martinez to win a title in a second division. Photo / Frank Franklin II
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
A battle of two-time Olympic champions turned into a wipe out. AP Photo / Adam Hunger
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
Lomachenko (right) overcame a spirited challenge from Jorge Linares. Al Bello / Getty Images
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.
The fact that Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko are set to meet on Oct. 17 hasn’t prompted Lopez to curtail his verbal assault.
Teofimo Lopez Jr. has no intention of curbing his recent run of knockout victories just because his next opponent is Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Lopez and Lomachenko are scheduled to do battle in a lightweight title-unification bout on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. The matchup is one that both parties have wanted to get done as soon as possible despite the COVID-19 pandemic grinding live sports to a halt for the better part of six months.
Brooklyn’s Lopez, who finished six of his last seven victories inside the scheduled distance, has bombarded Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) with trash talk for a long time. And even though the contracts have been signed, he continued to do so in one of his first media appearances since Top Rank confirmed the Vegas bubble show.
“Oh hell yeah, I gotta knock this guy out, man. Everybody loves knockouts, why not?” Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) told ESPN’s First Take. “What I do is very exciting. I’m a young, hungry fighter. A lot of people may call me arrogant, but when it comes to my sport, I’m very good at what I do.”
Later during the interview, however, Lopez interestingly was less emphatic about his prediction of stopping the man who made four consecutive opponents quit in 2016 and 2017 to earn the nickname “No-mas-chenko”.
“I’m not going to look for that knockout. If it comes, it comes. But I trust my abilities,” he said. “I’m only getting stronger, and the fact that we’ve rested for this long, it’s going to be a bad night for this man. … I think both of us probably needed the rest. It’s going to be a great fight to watch.”
Lomachenko’s knockouts of Nicholas Walters, Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga and Guillermo Rigondeaux doesn’t particularly faze Lopez either, it seems.
“The guys that he’s faced and made quit were just too scared of everything he was able to do to them,” Lopez said. “I’m a big 135 pounder. I can be fighting at 140 right now. I’m very comfortable at this weight. Everything that this man does that they say, he’s decreasing. I’m not even in my prime yet and I’m out here just outdoing guys.
“He’s on his way out, and it’s showing. Your body can only take so much damage, and I guarantee you we’re going to put some damage on this man.”
The fact that Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko are set to meet on Oct. 17 hasn’t prompted Lopez to curtail his verbal assault.
Teofimo Lopez Jr. has no intention of curbing his recent run of knockout victories just because his next opponent is Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Lopez and Lomachenko are scheduled to do battle in a lightweight title-unification bout on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. The matchup is one that both parties have wanted to get done as soon as possible despite the COVID-19 pandemic grinding live sports to a halt for the better part of six months.
Brooklyn’s Lopez, who finished six of his last seven victories inside the scheduled distance, has bombarded Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) with trash talk for a long time. And even though the contracts have been signed, he continued to do so in one of his first media appearances since Top Rank confirmed the Vegas bubble show.
“Oh hell yeah, I gotta knock this guy out, man. Everybody loves knockouts, why not?” Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) told ESPN’s First Take. “What I do is very exciting. I’m a young, hungry fighter. A lot of people may call me arrogant, but when it comes to my sport, I’m very good at what I do.”
Later during the interview, however, Lopez interestingly was less emphatic about his prediction of stopping the man who made four consecutive opponents quit in 2016 and 2017 to earn the nickname “No-mas-chenko”.
“I’m not going to look for that knockout. If it comes, it comes. But I trust my abilities,” he said. “I’m only getting stronger, and the fact that we’ve rested for this long, it’s going to be a bad night for this man. … I think both of us probably needed the rest. It’s going to be a great fight to watch.”
Lomachenko’s knockouts of Nicholas Walters, Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga and Guillermo Rigondeaux doesn’t particularly faze Lopez either, it seems.
“The guys that he’s faced and made quit were just too scared of everything he was able to do to them,” Lopez said. “I’m a big 135 pounder. I can be fighting at 140 right now. I’m very comfortable at this weight. Everything that this man does that they say, he’s decreasing. I’m not even in my prime yet and I’m out here just outdoing guys.
“He’s on his way out, and it’s showing. Your body can only take so much damage, and I guarantee you we’re going to put some damage on this man.”
