Comments Thread For: In the corner with Russ Anber: Vasiliy Lomachenko was a fighter ahead of his time

[BoxingUpdates]

Anber writes a tribute to Lomachenko, whose fights he called in the Olympics and whose team he joined beginning in 2015.
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[steeve steel]

Loma's skills were undeniable! Amazing amateur and exciting to watch as a pro! He showed audacity in fighting Russel Jr. after his loss to Salido. And yet... Something seems to be missing. Maybe it's the choice of certain opponents like Martinez, Sosa, Crolla, Pedroza, Marriaga, Commey, Cambell, Kambosos.. i know you can't fight killers all the time, but when you consider the number of fights he's had, and how those fighters careers evolved, it king of takes away some of the shine. Specially when you add the 3 loses, and a victory over an undersized Rigondeaux at 36.

[Mark Elding]

I’m surprised Russ didn’t make mention of those killer shoulder issues Lomachenko also had to contend with. They seriously impacted Buddy McGirt’s career, to the extent I believe he would have edged Whitaker in their first fight without them. Buddy just didn’t have his lead hook in that fight - the damaged tendons didn’t allow for it. Lomachenko didn’t have his lead hook against Lopez either - it was obvious from the third round on. He did great under the circumstances, as did McGirt.

[Slip jab]

Loma had sublime skills. His footwork, how he got angles. This elevated the sport that other fighters started borrowing this facet. But they aren’t The Matrix. Very few fighters inspire that kind of change in other fighters styles. Floyd’s shoulder roll and of course Lomas Matrix-style. Those 2 are the most recent ones. Think guys will be studying the Matrix moves for a long time.

[Mark Elding]

Loma's skills were undeniable! Amazing amateur and exciting to watch as a pro! He showed audacity in fighting Russel Jr. after his loss to Salido. And yet... Something seems to be missing. Maybe it's the choice of certain opponents like Martinez, Sosa, Crolla, Pedroza, Marriaga, Commey, Cambell, Kambosos.. i know you can't fight killers all the time, but when you consider the number of fights he's had, and how those fighters careers evolved, it king of takes away some of the shine. Specially when you add the 3 loses, and a victory over an undersized Rigondeaux at 36.

If anything’s missing it’s context. Give away natural size in the ring and good opponents become very stiff challenges. Commey, in particular, was a case in point. So he got whacked early by Lopez. So what? Teo had 10-15lbs on Loma. Loma’s technical showcase v Commey was still indicative of one of the top 5 pound for pound fighters in the world at that time. Easily. If his shoulder hadn’t popped early against Lopez he would have still been number 1, and it wouldn’t have been that close.

[steeve steel]

If anything’s missing it’s context. Give away natural size in the ring and good opponents become very stiff challenges. Commey, in particular, was a case in point. So he got whacked early by Lopez. So what? Teo had 10-15lbs on Loma. Loma’s technical showcase v Commey was still indicative of one of the top 5 pound for pound fighters in the world at that time. Easily. If his shoulder hadn’t popped early against Lopez he would have still been number 1, and it wouldn’t have been that close.

This is the context: all the fighters i've mentionned (Martinez, Sosa, Crolla, Pedroza, Marriaga, Commey, Cambell, Kambosos) all revealed themselves to be B level fighters, so I guess he was expected to beat them, even with some weight difference. Again, not denying his skills, just trying to answer Russ Amber' critics as to why Loma never got the credit he diserved.

[The D3vil]

I respect the hell out of Loma.

Too many folks let race & other nonsense determine which fighters they'll give props to, but with Loma, I don't care what you are, dude was the real deal, fought everybody who was willing to fight him for years, & got screwed over a few times just like a lot of fighters who actually compete the way they're supposed to.

It's why I respect Bud's decisions post-Spence. The boxing game is full of too many shady promoters & fighters for real fighters to not get the pay days they deserve before they get out of the game.