Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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A one-time sparring partner of Vasiliy Lomachenko has offered some insight into exactly what Teofimo Lopez Jr. has to overcome if he wants to emerge from their lightweight unification grudge match with his perfect record intact.
Prior to his success at the London 2012 Olympics, Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) sparred with fellow Games competitor John Joe Nevin of Ireland.
“It was like you were doing a bit of shadow boxing, he’s that hard to hit,” Nevin said in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans. “He’ll only let you hit him if he’s trying to set you up for something.
“So if you’re having a bit of success here, he’s probably two steps ahead of you planning a nasty shot for you. He’d go around with these big 20-ounce gloves whilst everyone else was wearing 14-ounce or 16-ounce at the time.
“He’s going around with these massive paddings, wearing these ankle weights and he was still quick as quick, quicker than any other lad he sparred. He’s just tremendous, the stuff he comes up with.”
Nevin, who won a silver medal at bantamweight in 2012, was asked how Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) can stop the man many consider to be the best pound-for-pound fighter today
“Obviously trying to hit him,” he said. “Trying to land some punches on him and again if he was trying to punch back. If you made him miss with his hand speed, you’re doing something right.
“It was good, it was nice to share a ring with such talent like him and you’re only going to get better sparring the likes of him.”
Nevin (14-0, 4 KOs as a professional) hasn’t fought since November of last year, when he outpointed Freddy Fonseca at York Hall in London.
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