Vasiliy Lomachenko: record, next fight and profile →
Using the ratings of the published issues of Ring Magazine, and the archived ratings of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB) since their debut in October 2012, and under the assumption they act as a reasonable gauge of the state of each of boxing’s seventeen weight divisions over the last decade, a select group of fighters was evaluated with two questions in mind:
ATLANTIC CITY – Bob Arum would like to bring the highly anticipated Vasiliy Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez fight to Madison Square Garden. Like most things in boxing, though, the Lomachenko-Lopez site will be chosen based on where they can make the most money. Arum also has received a substantial financial offer from a group in Saudi Arabia, where Anthony Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr. in their heavyweight championship rematch last month.
Last month, Teofimo Lopez had a career defining performance when he stopped Richard Commey in two rounds to capture the IBF lightweight world title at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The victory has now set up a unification with WBA, WBC, WBO champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Undisputed middleweight champion Claressa Shields is eager to break the three division record of Vasiliy Lomachenko. Shields is back on January 10th in Atlantic City, when he headlines a Showtime televised card against Ivana Habazin in a batlle for the vacant WBC and WBO 154-pound titles at Ocean Casino Resort.
Teofimo Lopez has his own selfish reasons for a fight with Vasilily Lomachenko to land at Madison Square Garden. It’s a request that will come with the support of many in the boxing industry, since it’s precisely where such a fight belongs. The recently crowned lightweight titlist is still enjoying a victory lap for his 2nd round knockout of Richard Commey last December to claim his first major title as a pro. The fight took place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, with the main room and the accompanying Hulu Theater playing host to six of his 15 pro fights to date along with four Lomachenko title fights—and the hope for the next one to land at the World’s Most Famous Arena as well.
Saudi Arabia has made an offer to stage a lightweight unification clash between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez, according to Bob Arum. The Top Rank promoter says that a deal has been agreed for the fight to go ahead and will happen in April if it takes place in the United States – with rival New York venues Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center the most likely sites - or in May if it is in Saudi Arabia.
If you’ve gotten to this point and aren’t happy, it’s your own fault. You should have seen it coming last year. In keeping with tradition in this Tuesday morning space, we proactively greet the New Year with a preview of stories other boxing scribes will be reacting to about 12 months from now.
ATLANTA – Gervonta Davis should’ve made an important move Saturday night toward securing one of the most anticipated showdowns in boxing. By winning the WBA’s world lightweight title, Davis should’ve become the mandatory challenger for that sanctioning organization’s “super” lightweight champion, Vasiliy Lomachenko. Baltimore’s Davis already was the WBA’s No. 1 challenger for Lomachenko’s championship, one spot ahead of second-ranked Yuriorkis Gamboa, whom Davis stopped in the 12th round at State Farm Arena.
NEW YORK – Now that he has watched Teofimo Lopez demolish a powerful champion he promotes, Lou DiBella is convinced Lopez can beat any lightweight in boxing. Including Vasiliy Lomachenko. DiBella would favor the experienced, exceptional Lomachenko to win when they meet in a 135-pound championship unification fight. Lopez’s power makes him more than just a live underdog, though, according to DiBella.
NEW YORK – Vasiliy Lomachenko might’ve been the least impressed person inside Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The three-division champion commended Teofimo Lopez for winning a lightweight world title. Lomachenko also acknowledged Lopez’s power, which was on full display during his second-round stoppage of Richard Commey.