Unified WBO lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko has hit out at the boasts of Teofimo Lopez, the IBF belt holder in the same division, when they fight in October.

Lomachenko has responded to the verbal jabs by Teofimo Lopez, the IBF belt holder in the same division.

The pair are due to fight on October 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to unify the titles.

Lomachenko has engaged in something of a running war of words with Lopez in the build-up to the fight, but he has taken exception to Lopez’s claims that he could end the Ukrainian’s career.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lomachenko said “In my country, if you insult somebody, you’d better be prepared for them to hurt you.”

“If we were back in my country, he would learn pretty quickly that he can’t run his mouth like that,” he continued.

“Whatever I say, I believe in it. So what he’s saying, for example, he actually believes. But if he doesn’t follow it up with actions and fulfill those words, then he chose those words poorly to begin with. I’m definitely not going to feel sorry for him.”

The 32-year-old boxer last fought at the end of August 2019 when he defeated Luke Campbell by unanimous decision, but he is not worried by the extended break away from competitive boxing.

“Everything is good,” Lomachenko claimed.

“I’ve had a one-year break without a fight. Now I’m healthy and happy. I’m 32, I’ve been very long in this sport so, of course, my body has tired a little bit. But I’ve had a break.”

He explained that he sees a bout with Lopez as a means to achieving his goal of unification.

“I am close to my goal. This is one step closer to my dream. Fans love the interesting fights with top fighters. Now we have a unification (fight) and we are the top fighters in this weight class. It was my goal when I started my pro career. It was always my dream. I did 126 lbs, I tried 130 lbs, now I try 135 lbs and it is very close. I want to unify.

“I want to put my name in boxing history. I started very early – my second fight of my pro career was a world title fight. I want to do something special with this opportunity.”

Via https://www.dazn.com/en-NZ/news/amp/boxing/vasiliy-lomachenko-wont-feel-sorry-for-hurting-teofimo-lopez/

Top Rank has officially released the artwork for the Lomachenko-Lopez Unified WBO Lightweight Championship Clash

Vasiliy Lomachenko’s fight with Teofimo Lopez Jr. will take place inside the bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Oct. 17.

Top Rank announced a number of fight nights as live boxing continues to come back from the COVID-19-enforced shutdown, including Vasiliy Lomachenko’s anticipated showdown with Teofimo Lopez Jr. for Oct. 17.

Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) were originally set to clash with the Ukrainian’s titles put up against the unbeaten American’s IBF strap at Madison Square Garden, before the hoped May 30 date was one of many to be washed away by the coronavirus pandemic.

The MGM Grand, venue for so many all-time great boxing clashes, has been nicknamed “The Las Vegas Bubble” as it prepares to welcome post-lockdown action across a number of weekend dates, all of which conforming to COVID-19 protocol.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum announced Tuesday that Vasiliy Lomachenko will face Teofimo Lopez on Sept. 19 in a lightweight title unification bout.

According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Lomachenko and Lopez were originally scheduled to meet on May 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, but the fight was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lomachenko is the WBO and WBA Lightweight champion, while Lopez holds the IBF Lightweight title.

There is still plenty that needs to be worked out regarding the fight, including where it will occur and whether fans will be able to attend.

Arum said the following about the rationale behind scheduling it now: “In talking with Lomachenko and Lopez, neither of them want an interim fight. So we would plan to do that in September, with or without an audience.”

Per Baby, Arum hinted at Lomachenko vs. Lopez being a pay-per-view fight held in Las Vegas, although that isn’t yet set in stone.

More on https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2898418-vasiliy-lomachenko-vs-teofimo-lopez-title-fight-set-for-sept-19-per-bob-arum

Lomachenko-Campbell to stream Saturday LIVE on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT

Entire Undercard to stream on ESPN+ starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

Vasiliy Lomachenko made his return to London’s historic York Hall, roughly six years since he fought there as part of the World Series of Boxing. Shortly thereafter, he turned pro and has been making history ever since.

Lomachenko, the Unified WBO lightweight world champion, will make his long-awaited United Kingdom return Saturday evening against Luke Campbell at The O2 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

York Hall was packed Wednesday evening, this time to watch Lomachenko and Campbell as they participated in a media workout. Three days before the biggest night on the British boxing calendar, this is what they had to say.

Vasiliy Lomachenko

On the challenges Campbell presents

“Luke Campbell is a tall southpaw with a strong boxing IQ. I know I can’t look past a fighter with his skills. He won an Olympic gold medal and has had a lot of success as a pro.”

On making his UK debut as a pro

“I have wanted to fight in London ever since I turned pro. The fans appreciate my boxing style, and every time I’ve come here, they make me feel appreciated. Campbell is from the UK, but I feel very comfortable.”

On potentially unifying three of the lightweight world titles

“This brings me one step closer to my main goal of having all the belts. I want to ‘unificate’ all of the titles. That is my next goal in boxing. I have won titles in three weight categories, but I never won all four belts in a division. So, for me, Campbell is a very important name as I write my boxing history.”

“I want to make history. That’s the most important thing for me. When I turned pro, I wanted to win a world title right away, and I tied a record by winning a world title in my third fight. Now, I want to make a different {type of} history. Very few fighters have won all four titles. It would mean a lot for me to accomplish this.”

On training at home in Ukraine for this fight

“I trained at the Olympic Sports Centre in Kiev, and it was nice to train at home. We did not change much with my preparation, but I feel very good physically. The weather was good, and I am 100 percent ready for whatever Luke Campbell brings.”

Luke Campbell

“I’m feeling great at the minute. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me. I’ve got the best team around me and we’re all confident.”

“It doesn’t matter how I do it {as long as} I get the win.”

ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT

Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Luke Campbell, 12 rounds, Lomachenko’s WBO/WBA and vacant WBC lightweight world titles

Having witnessed first-hand the electric atmosphere for longtime friend Oleksandr Usyk’s knockout of Tony Bellew last November in Manchester, England, Vasiliy Lomachenko instantly decided that his 2019 campaign must feature a big event in the United Kingdom.

His next fight officially became just that.

The Aug. 31 three-belt title unification clash between Lomachenko and England’s Luke Campbell will officially play to a sold-out crowd at London’s O2 Arena. The event was a hot ticket from the moment it was formally announced earlier this summer.

It is now one where any remaining tickets are only available on the secondary market.

“Now officially SOLD OUT for Loma-Campbell,” Eddie Hearn, Campbell’s promoter declared through social media on Monday. “[G]oing to be a big night at The O2 Arena [on] August 31.”

The site—which seats 20,000 at full capacity (though not necessarily the amount of tickets made available)—is a fitting location, as it features a pair of boxers whom captured Olympic Gold in the 2012 London Olympics.

Monday’s announcement is even more relevant to that link, as it comes seven years to the day when Lomachenko (13-1, 10KOs) won the latter of back-to-back Olympic Gold medals after having earned gold and the Val Barker Trophy four years prior as the Most Outstanding Boxer of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

England’s Campbell (20-2, 13KOs) earned his 2012 Olympic Gold medal one day prior, the second of three eventual gold medal hauls for the hosting Great Britain boxing team.

To date, Lomachenko has enjoyed the far greater pro career of the two, entering as a three-division and reigning unified lightweight titlist. An off-the-canvas knockout win over Jorge Linares last May earned the Ukrainian southpaw the distinction of earning titles in three weight divisions in fewer fights than any other male boxer in history.

The feat has since been matched by Japan’s Kosei Tanaka—just four months later—though Lomachenko remains far more celebrated. He enters the Aug. 31 clash ranked high among the very best boxers in the world on most pound-for-pound lists.

Meanwhile, Campbell remains in search of his first major title. The Hull-bred southpaw came up just short in a competitive 12-round loss to Linares in Sept. 2017. He’s since won three straight, including a landslide decision over Yvan Mendy last September in a rematch where he avenged his first career defeat from nearly two years prior at this very venue.

Article by Jake Donovan / BoxingScene.com

WBO Unified Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, the pound-for-pound Picasso and two-time Olympic gold medalist, will defend his belts Saturday, Aug. 31, against fellow Olympic gold medalist “Cool Hand” Luke Campbell, the pride of Hull, England, at The O2 in London.

Lomachenko-Campbell will headline a special afternoon edition of Top Rank on ESPN on ESPN+ — the industry-leading sports streaming service — beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. The entire undercard will stream on ESPN+ starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

This will mark Lomachenko’s first ring appearance in London since the 2013 World Series of Boxing when he shut out Sam Maxwell over five rounds.

“Vasiliy Lomachenko is a unique talent who is going to take the United Kingdom by storm,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Luke Campbell is an excellent fighter, but Lomachenko is in a class of his own. The fans on that side of the pond have wanted Lomachenko to return ever since he turned pro. It’s going to be a crazy, sold-out crowd at the O2 Arena, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Lomachenko has the crowd’s support.”

“This is a fight for history because my goal is to unify all of the belts in the lightweight division,” Lomachenko said. “Luke Campbell is the next challenge for me on that journey. He is an excellent fighter who I remember well from the 2012 Olympics. He has a difficult style, and I cannot afford to overlook him.

“It is very special for me to fight in London. I visited last year, and the response from the people was overwhelming. They respect my fighting style and are passionate about boxing. I can’t wait to put on a great show for everyone.”

“I am thrilled to see Vasiliy Lomachenko head to the UK to meet British star Luke Campbell,” said Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport. “Loma is simply one of the finest boxers to ever lace them up, the best fighter on the planet today and I’m honored to be promoting his first ever pro fight in the UK. But Luke is an elite world fighter, too, and with his range, ability and heart, the Hull ace can shock the world and rip Loma’s titles from him on another epic night of boxing in the capital.”

“The best fighting the best, this is going to make one hell of a fight,” Campbell said. “I am in this sport to be the best and I am this sport to become a world champion. This is what I train and work so hard for, to become a world champion and fulfill my potential.

“He is ranked number one pound-for-pound on the planet so for me to fight a guy like that only encourages me more to be the best that I can be and it is exactly the level that I want to be at. I’m well aware of how good he is and what he is capable of doing but I’m also well aware of what I can do and what I’m going to do.

“I think that I can knock out anyone that I hit right, I believe that I am one of the biggest punchers in the lightweight division. This is going to be the toughest fight of my life and I’m preparing for it, physically and mentally. This is Luke Campbell’s year, it’s my time.”

Lomachenko (13-1, 10 KOs), who went 396-1 as an amateur, has won world titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight in the paid ranks. He fought for a world title in his second pro bout and won the WBO featherweight world title in his third outing, dominating Gary Russell Jr. over 12 rounds. He made his lightweight debut last May, tearing the labrum in his right shoulder in the second round and rising from a sixth-round knockdown to knock out WBA champion Jorge Linares in the 10th.

Lomachenko added the WBO lightweight title to his collection in December, scoring a pair of knockdowns in the 11th round and ultimately winning a unanimous decision over two-weight world champion Jose Pedraza. He last fought in April at Staples Center in Los Angeles, disposing of mandatory challenger Anthony Crolla in four rounds.

Campbell (20-2, 16 KOs), the WBC No. 1 lightweight contender, captured Olympic gold as a bantamweight at the 2012 London Olympics, one of only two male boxers (along with Anthony Joshua) to win gold in front of the home fans. Lomachenko won gold as a lightweight in London, and a little more than seven years later, their paths will cross once again.

Campbell lost to Yvan Mendy via split decision in his 13th pro bout in December 2015, a defeat that was avenged nearly three years later in convincing fashion. Campbell challenged Jorge Linares for the WBA lightweight title in September 2017 in Los Angeles, dropping a highly contested split decision. He has won three in a row since that disappointment — including the Mendy rematch — most recently knocking out Adrian Yung in five rounds in Philadelphia.

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Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing, tickets for Lomachenko vs. Campbell are priced at £40, £60, £100, £150, £200, £300 and £600 (Inner Ring VIP).

Tickets are available to purchase NOW for O2 Priority customers via www.theo2.co.uk and go on sale to Fight Pass members on Sunday July 21 at midday via

ESPN Weight: Lomachenko 134.4, Anthony Crolla 134.8

LOS ANGELES — Anthony Crolla wants to make Manchester, England, proud by delivering one of the biggest upsets in British boxing history.

The fighter known as “Million Dollar” officially got that opportunity Thursday after he and Vasiliy Lomachenko made weight for their WBO/WBA lightweight title fight at Staples Center on Friday.

Crolla, an 18-1 underdog, came in at 134.8 pounds. Lomachenko, who’s regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter, stepped on the scale at a chiseled 134.4 pounds.

“It would mean the absolute world to me,” Crolla said if he’s able to complete the upset. “It would be one of the biggest upsets in British boxing history. It would change my life, it would change my family’s life, and I go down in history.”

Crolla, 32, is on a three-fight winning streak since dropping two straight to Jorge Linares.

Lomachenko, 31, recorded a technical knockout over Linares last year to capture his first of two lightweight titles. He added the second belt after a unanimous decision against Jose Pedraza in December.

By Gilbert Manzano / boxingscene.com
Photo by Mikey Williams / Top Rank