Back in March of 2014, in what was just his second professional outing, former two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4KOs) was out-pointed over twelve rounds by then WBO featherweight titlist Orlando Salido (43-13-4, 30KOs).
On June 4th at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, WBC 130-pound titlist Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido waged a memorable battle that ended in a draw. But it looks like an immediate rematch is not in the cards.
Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico – A month-ago in Carson, California Orlando “Siri” Salido and Francisco “Bandido” Vargas engaged in a fight for the ages giving the fans the fireworks they promised and then some as they battle for 12 rounds in what still considered by the experts at the fight of the year so far in 2016.
Last Saturday night in San Antonio, Vasyl Lomachenko (1-1, 1 KO or 7-1, 1KO to others) made a very ambitious move by taking a significant step up in competition by taking on three-time and reigning world champion Orlando Salido in a fight for the WBO featherweight title. Salido was only Lomachenko's second opponent outside of the World Series of Boxing.
Ciudad, Obregon, Mexico - Former champion Orlando Salido (41-12-2, 28KOs), upon his return to Mexico, reflected on Saturday's victory over two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasyl Lomacenko (1-1, 1KO) in San Antonio. Lomachenko was attempting to make history by winning a world title (vacant WBO featherweight) in his second professional fight.
by David P. Greisman - There are reasons why situations such as Saturday’s are so rare — and such uncommon circumstances are why so much marketing hype was put behind the fight between featherweight titleholder Orlando Salido and challenger Vasyl Lomachenko. The marketing claimed that Lomachenko was vying for a world title in just his second pro fight and that he would be breaking a record if he won. Lomachenko, a 26-year-old from Ukraine, is considered one of the top amateur talents of recent years. He won gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and captured amateur world championships in 2009 and 2011. His legend was also built in the nearly 400 fights he had in the unpaid ranks, with only one of those bouts ending in defeat. After the 2012 Olympics, Lomachenko joined up with the World Series of Boxing, which is affiliated with the organization formerly known as the International Amateur Boxing Association (or AIBA), now called the International Boxing Association. Thanks to that affiliation, WSB competitors would be able to get paid without losing their Olympic eligibility.
Vasyl Lomachenko has only lost two boxing matches ever — one in his amateur career, and now one early into his pro career, after his split decision defeat to Orlando Salido on the undercard to the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Bryan Vera rematch. The sole scorecard in Lomachenko’s favor came from Levi Martinez, who had him winning 115-113, giving him 7 of the 12 rounds — rounds 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 12.
Former World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. unanimously outpointed Bryan Vera in a super middleweight rematch Saturday night at the Alamodome, rebounding from perhaps the worst performance of his career. Chavez (48-1-1) had winning scores of 114-113, 114-113 and 117-110. In September, Chavez struggled while outpointing Vera (23-8) in a disputed ten round unanimous decision in Carson, California. Chavez failed to make weight, forfeited a six-figure portion of his purse and appeared to allow Vera to win the later rounds.
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank joined the chorus of critics blasting oft-derided referee Laurence Cole for his officiating in Orlando Salido’s split decision win over Vasyl Lomachenko this past Saturday — a bout that the company had made as it tries to make Lomachenko, an acclaimed amateur and two-time Olympic gold medalist, into a star.
Props to Orlando Salido for taking the fight to Vasyl Lomachenko all night by throwing 300 more power shots. Lomachenko lost the fight, but two questions arise? Why was no cap placed on amount of weight Salido could regain after failing to make 126-lb limit by more than 2 lbs? And why wasn't Salido warned more than once by ref Lawrence Cole for repeated low blows throughout the fight?