Bob Arum revealed this week that Unified WBO Lightweight Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko will be traveling to the United States on June 15 for his September unification fight against IBF champion Teofimo López.

Arum will be staging the Lomachenko vs. Teofimo fight in front of a small crowd of 2,500 spaced out in a large arena in September. It isn’t ideal for such a massive fight like this to take place in front of a small crowd, but there’s not much else they can do.

Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) were scheduled previously to meet at the end of May in New York, but the pandemic upset those plans.

Teofimo, 22, is looking huge right now and is said to be in the mid-150s. This week, Teofimo was lifting weights, and looking like a short junior middleweight. The weight cut or Teoimo is going to be difficult, as he’s going to need to lose approximately 20 pounds to make the 135-pound limit.

It’s doable for Teofimo because he’s young, and can probably get away with it. With that said, you can bet that Lomachenko will be attempting to drag Lopez into the later rounds to take advantage of his weight loss.

Lopez’s weight issues could work for Lomachenko, but maybe not. Younger fighters can cut enormous amounts of weight without it hurting them, which is why they have an advantage over the older guys. If Teofimo isn’t weight drained for this fight, Lomachenko could be in for a world of hurt.

A guy has never hit Lomachenko with the kind of size and power that Teofimo has. For Lomachenko to beat Teofimo, he’s going to need to take a lot of heavy blows.

“As far as fighters outside of the United States, there’s a limit to what we can do,” said Arum. “In other words, we don’t fly the planes. I don’t have any influence with this White House, thank God as to lifting travel bans, but where there’s a will there’s a way.

“And I know that Vasiliy Lomachenko, for example, will be coming to the United States sometime in June. I don’t know when the Brits can come. I don’t know when the Canadian’s can come. This is ready out of our hands now,” said Arum.

The Fighters Must Find A Way Into The U.S.

“So every fighter that wants to come over and wants to participate in these shows and continue their careers has got to find a way to do that on their own with their advisers,” said Arum. “We’ll facilitate anything we can. But our power is greatly limited,” said Arum.

As you can see, Top Rank isn’t going to be able to help all their fighters make into the United States with their help. So if they want to participate in Top Rank’s cards, they’ll need to find a way to enter the U.S with the help of their managers and advisers.

It would be interesting to know whether Arum helped the 32-year-old Lomachenko with his documentation to get him into the States. The famous fighters are too crucial for Top Rank to leave it up to them without giving them a hand if needed.

If Lomachenko can’t make it into the United States, then that’s a showstopper. It’s good that Lomachenko is coming to the States this week because that’ll give Arum and Top Rank enough time to explore other options if he’s blocked.

In hindsight, it was a mistake for Lomachenko to go back to Ukraine because he was in the U.S not long ago. He probably didn’t realize how much trouble it would be for him to return to the U.S because of the pandemic situation.

Teofimo Lopez Gives The Secret To Cutting Weight
“‘How much do I weigh right now?’ 156. Six pounds to go to where I want to be at,” said Teofimo this week in answering questions on social media. “And then just lose [water weight to get down to 135].

“‘How do you lose that much weight? Is it healthy for your body?’ You’ve got to drink a lot of water. I drink two gallons of water every day. When I’m in camp, I drink a little bit more than two gallons every day. Foodwise, I love to eat. Food is life, but it’s what you eat and the amount of food you eat and your meals and abundance,” said Teofimo Lopez.

“You don’t want to eat a big amount. Everything has to be fist-sized. Usually, I’ll eat five times a day, including two snacks. If you want me to get in detail and all that. Fish is good. Anything with low sodium. Make sure its low sodium. Don’t eat carbs unless you’re trying to build up weight-wise. If you’re trying to lean up with muscle, then you can try and build up with carbs. A lot of conditioning.

“Once I get into camp, that’s when I drop those next 15 pounds [with the help of his trainer],” said Teofimo. “Right now, I’m making their job easier, and they make it easier for me. None of that good food thing you guys like. You’ve got to throw that out the window if you want to lose weight. I’m trying to come back as soon as possible. Pain is a weakness in the mind, baby,” said Teofimo.

By Sean Jones / BoxingNews24.com

Ukrainian boxer Vasyl Lomachenko has been honored with the Lightweight Super Champion belt by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

“Vasyl Lomachenko [has been] honored with [the] Lightweight Super Champion Belt at @trboxing presser for Loma v. Crolla on @espn,” the WBO wrote on Twitter on April 10, 2019.

The Super Champion title gives Lomachenko the right to claim the WBO belt in any weight category. The owner of such a trophy can also get immediate revenge if he loses in the fight for the championship belt. Lomachenko’s next fight against British boxer Anthony Crolla will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the United States, on April 12, 2019.

Read more on UNIAN: https://www.unian.info/society/10512984-ukrainian-boxer-lomachenko-honored-with-lightweight-super-champion-belt.html

Photo by Mikey Williams Top Rank


Lomachenko-Anthony Crolla and Ramirez-Tommy Karpency headline evening of boxing on ESPN+ beginning at 11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT

LOS ANGELES (March 11, 2019) — WBO Unified Lightweight World Champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko and WBO super middleweight world champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez came to Fortune Gym in Hollywood on Monday for a media workout as they prepare for their respective bouts, April 12 at Staples Center.
 
Lomachenko, the pound-for-pound Picasso, will defend his world titles in the main event against the hard-charging Anthony “Million Dollar’ Crolla, while Ramirez will dip his toe in the light heavyweight waters versus veteran Tommy Karpency in the co-feature.
 
Lomachenko-Crolla and Ramirez-Karpency will stream exclusively April 12 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on ESPN+ — the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer & International segment in conjunction with ESPN

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Matchroom Boxing USA, tickets priced at $310.50, $207, $103.50, $77.65, and $51.75 (including facility fees) are available now and can be purchased by visiting AXS.com.
 
In front of a packed media contingent, this is what they had to say.
 
Vasiliy Lomachenko
 
On his weight
 
Right now, I am a lightweight, but lightweight is not my ideal weight category. My goal now is to unify all four titles, and then, we’ll see. Maybe I’ll move back down to 130 pounds and win world titles there for a second time.
 
On Anthony Crolla as a fighter
 
“I don’t know too much about him. I know him from his two fights with Jorge Linares. I do know he is an aggressive fighter, and I like to fight guys who come forward.”
 
On preparing for Crolla
 
“I prepare like always. We are training hard. I’ve been training for a couple months already and will put on a great performance for my fans in Los Angeles and on ESPN+. I will show everyone my best style and hope everyone enjoys it.”
 
On future opponents
 
“I want to fight the best. But now, Crolla is the best choice. He is the mandatory challenger and wanted to fight me. That is why I accepted this fight.”
 
On whether he thinks he’ll dominate Crolla
 
“I don’t know. I can’t see in the future. It depends how he fights. We’ll see.”
 
On Teofimo Lopez
 
I’m ready for everyone. I need the belts. If you have a belt, you can come in the ring and I’ll fight with you.”
 
Gilberto Ramirez
 
“I made history when I became the first super middleweight champion in the history of Mexican boxing, and now I’m moving up to the 175-pound division to continue making history.”
 
“I want to face the best fighters and clean out the division. I want all the titles. I want to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. I’m ready to prove I’m an elite fighter.”

In the 89-year history of THE RING’s Fighter of the Year award, no boxer has ever earned the honor with as few fights under his belt as Vasyl Lomachenko has. Then again, few have achieved as much as the Ukrainian amateur star did after only 11 pro bouts.

Lomachenko (10-1, 8 knockouts) was selected as THE RING’s Prospect of the Year in 2013 after only one fight – his Oct. 12 pro debut against Jose Ramirez. Eight months after that impressive fourth-round KO, the wizardly southpaw won his first world title, the vacant WBO featherweight belt, by taking Gary Russell Jr. to school over 12 rounds. (Lomachenko’s boxing clinic against the highly touted unbeaten U.S. Olympian was performed in his third pro bout, just three months after he received his own education in gritty pro tactics via 12-round split-decision loss to grizzled veteran Orlando Salido.)

Two years and three title defenses later, he won his second world title in a second weight class, the WBO 130-pound belt, with a fifth-round KO of Roman Martinez. His first defense – an embarrassingly one-sided mastery of Nicholas Walters that forced the unbeaten former featherweight titleholder to pull a “No Mas” after seven rounds – was so impressive that he instantly jumped into the top half of most pound-for-pound lists by the end of 2016.

So, what made Lomachenko’s 2017 so special? Why was he selected as THE RING’s Fighter of the Year over worthy candidates such as Terence Crawford, Anthony Joshua, Mikey Garcia and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai?

For starters, he fought more than the other standouts in 2017 – three times – continuing to outclass and bewilder opposition to between-rounds retirements, but he also made large strides toward transitioning from a boxing-world phenom to the kind of general sports standout recognized by casual fans and mainstream media.

Lomachenko (left) tags Jason Sosa. Photo courtesy of HBO

Lomachenko’s humiliating brand of dominance was expected against his first two opponents of 2017, Jason Sosa and Miguel Marriaga, both solid contenders that will give any other world-class featherweight or junior lightweight a grueling night. Lomachenko forced the battle-tested scrappers to remain on their stools after nine and seven rounds, respectively, and he didn’t mind showboating as he gradually picked them apart from every conceivable angle.

Although Lomachenko was favored to beat his third opponent of 2017, fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux, he wasn’t expected to have his way with the counter-punching master.

Rigondeaux, who carried a 17-0 pro record into their anticipated showdown at The Theater inside Madison Square Garden, was the older of the two savvy left-handers (37 to 29) and moving up from the 122-pound division, but the Cuban also brought with him a style that many believed was impossible to dominate or look good against.

Lomachenko did both en route to Rigondeaux’s inglorious retirement after six rounds.

Lomachenko downplayed the victory during his post-fight interviews, basically stating that he did what he was supposed to do, but there can be no downplaying of his boxing ability or his rising stature in the sports world.

Lomachenko appears to be on his way to becoming a bona-fide attraction. It was literally standing room only inside the 5,000-seat Theater (with no space for comps or auxiliary media and tickets rumored to be going for three times face value on the secondary market prior to the ESPN-televised card). Promoter Bob Arum says the two-division titleholder will fight at least three times next year, perhaps once in the “big room” of Madison Square Garden. Lomachenko is clearly done with small venues and fighting in front of limited TV audiences.

Lomachenko (right) took Guillermo Rigondeaux apart. Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Lomachenko-Rigondeaux was watched by 1.73 million on ESPN (twice the number of viewers that tuned into a UFC offering on FS1 that was broadcast during the same time slot). It was ESPN’s highest-rated show on December 9, exceeding viewers for the Heisman Trophy presentation and the MLS Cup.

Lomachenko’s future fights will be televised on Top Rank’s new network partner, ESPN, which contributed to his crossover appeal in 2017 and will undoubtedly enhance his popularity in the U.S. in coming years.

For now, he’s the toast of the boxing world, where hardcore fans use his name as an adjective or verb when expounding on their favorite sport via social media. A talented prospect like Josh Kelly might be described as having “Lomachenko-esque” moves. A fighter who is bewildered into submission might be said to have been “Lomachenko’d.”

Lomachenko’s reputation has been established enough in 2017 that boxing geeks now argue how he would fare in a mythical matchup with a prime Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 130 pounds.

However, Lomachenko isn’t interested in the future hall of famer, but rather one of the standouts of Mayweather Promotions, former IBF 130-pound beltholder Gervonta Davis. His “call out” to Davis, which was directed at Mayweather’s official Twitter account, attracted a lot of attention and eventually pulled Mikey Garcia into the social media conversation.

Lomachenko eventually Tweeted a poll of four potential opponents – Miguel Berchelt, Garcia, Davis and Jorge Linares – which has garnered more than 40,000 votes. Garcia and Davis received the most votes, but if he can get any two of the four in the ring in 2018 he’ll likely be a strong candidate for back-to-back Fighter of the Year honors.

RUNNERS UP:
Anthony Joshua
Terence Crawford
Mikey Garcia
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai

Following “Fighter of the Year” tradition, Vasyl Lomachenko will feature as cover star in the next issue of RING Magazine.

 

Vasyl Lomachenko named 2017 RING Magazine Fighter of the Year

 

 


Date: Saturday – August 5, 2017

WBO JR. LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:  Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, USA

Promoter:  Top Rank /Bob Arum

Supervisor:  Richard De Cuir

Referee:   Jack Reiss

Judges:  

Results:  The WBO Jr. Lightweight Champion Vasyl Lomachenko made a massive shot knocked Miguel Marriaga down in the closing seconds of the seventh round.  Lomachenko retained the WBO junior lightweight title with the win.

TV:   USA ESPN

TODD duBOEF: I would like to welcome everybody to our inaugural U.S.-based promotion that will be live on ESPN, this Saturday, at 10 p.m. ET. There is no other way to start off than with Vasyl Lomachenko. The event in itself, coming from Los Angeles [LA Live’s Microsoft Theater], having Vasyl be the debut fighter, and obviously to be discussing when somebody is pound-for-pound the best, the accolades are there and he has delivered time in and time out in his very short career. 

But for me to talk about how great somebody is, I have only been in the business 25 years, but I always talk to our esteemed matchmaker Bruce Trampler, and I say, “Bruce how great is he?” Vasyl, he is one of the only fighters where Bruce will say, “He is something very special.” So he couldn’t be special without his father who is an incredible influence on him, and also his mental trainer, the psychologist who helps him prepare mentally. To be a perfect athlete and have the perfect training he has a great team.

EGIS KLIMAS: We are very excited to speak about our upcoming fight on ESPN. We are going to be available to a much bigger audience and everyone is going to be able to see who Vasyl Lomachenko is and how great he is at what he does and looking forward very, very much and to thank Top Rank for taking us to this level of his career.

You just fought in April and now you are right back in there again and could fight again a third time this year – is this what you like?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: This is exactly what I wanted, and exactly what I needed at this point because right now I am at the peak of my career – my best years – and I need to be more active as possible. I need to be in the ring as much as possible.

As the manager, can you give me your perspective about that?

EGIS KLIMAS: If the fighter is only going in the ring two times a year everyone forgets about him. My point is a champion should fight at least three times a year and if possible, four. It depends how quick you can get, and of course we all know this is a business too. The problems come from the networks and there are a lot of questions to get to that point but of course we are very happy to be able to fight three times a year.

What are the goals that Vasyl has beyond this fight – is it more belts, moving up to higher divisions, or fighting specific fighters?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: The biggest thing for me is I want to fight top, top fighters in the weight class that I am now fighting in. That is my biggest goal. Then maybe it is different weight classes. I want to be in the history book of boxing – I want my name to be mentioned when people talk about the history of boxing. Most important for me is to fight the best – where the fight means something – fans want it – people want to see it. I want to be on top of the list.

Is a fight against Marriaga one that delivers for him?

EGIS KLIMAS: Vasyl is a fighter. He is not choosing opponents and he is not trying to avoid anybody or, lets put it this way, afraid to step in the ring against anybody. He is a guy that is always asking “let’s train – come on over, come on over.” Top Rank can tell you we were thinking we were going to be fighting Orlando Salido and Salido dragged his feet and then Marriaga came about at the last minute – we had a few weeks before the bout. So beggars cannot be choosers.

TODD duBOEF: when you reach the frequency of bouts in a year – you can’t always have the biggest fight, so if we accelerate the frequency and he becomes more aware to everybody out there, you’re right, you may just have a real solid tough guy, like a Marriaga, in front of you, then all the sudden you get to a bigger fight that comes along and things like that happen then a title unification may come along like another solid top- five contender, so we can’t be so selective all the time. We would like to hit two paths – one is to get the best matches for Vasyl and Egis, and two is to keep the frequency going. We don’t want his career to stop because the right match isn’t there.

What do you see as the big matches you can make?

TODD duBOEF: Obviously you have a Salido rematch if Vasyl is still interested in that. And if Salido is real about that. Rigondeaux is yapping his mouth pretty good and that would be two of the most highly heralded amateurs. Vasyl has basically cleaned out the division and he will fight anybody so if he wants to go up in weight there are fighters at 135 that he can fight. I think there are tons of opportunities for him. We obviously want to work with them and with Egis on his move of the weight class. There was talk that he may jump to 135 for this fight but he is comfortable staying at 130 right now and we just pick and choose who we go through.

Do you see a fight with Mikey Garcia, who stated last week he does not want stay-busy fights and wants to fight the best?

TODD duBOEF: I would like to interject here. I am tired with people filing you guys with a bunch of (BS) and telling you ‘we want to fight the greatest fight with the best fighters out there – we are available.’ That is complete nonsense. Mikey Garcia turned down Yuriorkis Gamboa. He turned down Gamboa which would have made him something so don’t tell me he is striving to fight the best out there. He then came and says ‘oh, I want to fight Manny Pacquiao’ after a two-year layoff, ‘I want to fight Terence Crawford, I want to fight Vasyl Lomachenko.’ That’s great, we are here. His (bleeping) trainer shows up to say ‘hey we want to talk about it’ and he goes out and then makes the Broner fight. Stop the nonsense. Stop it. These guys yap (BS) to you guys like they are these pristine people. They don’t go out there and make matches. Vasyl has never dodged anybody. Crawford has never dodged anybody. Nobody goes out there to fight everybody out there. I hate these guys that say ‘oh, the reason is why they wanted the big fights out there’ then they wouldn’t fight Gamboa. It’s nonsense.

EGIS KLIMAS: Mikey Garcia, Mikey Garcia, after the fight he said clearly ‘whoever is willing to fight on Showtime, I will fight you. He is over there choosing the network. I think we are in a different grade. I would love to fight Mikey Garcia. It would give a big name to Vasyl, but..

TODD duBOEF: I don’t even think it’s a big name (laughing)

You don’t think it’s a big name after that victory?

TODD duBOEF: After what victory? I saw the fight, believe it or not. I didn’t think it was an incredible performance. He outpointed Broner. I didn’t think it was a scintillating fight. I thought he won the fight clearly. I wasn’t thinking ‘Oh my God, the masses are clamoring to see him. I am being honest with you. I think he had a nice fight. He fought well. Broner wasn’t throwing a lot of punches and Mikey did a good job, but a big name? A big name is Mikey Garcia now? I don’t see that.

In all of the fighters around that weight class, you’ve got to admit Garcia is a bigger name than Rigondeaux…

EGIS KLIMAS: You mean bigger in the fight? (laughing)

It’s a bigger fight…

TODD duBOEF: Listen, if Mikey Garcia is interested in the fight, have his guys call us. We are in. Any time. I mean the guy leaves us then says the three fighters I want to fight are Pacquiao, Crawford and Lomachenko. Why would you leave? You went on strike for two years. I hate to call it how it is guys.

Do you view Mikey Garcia as a guy you want to fight?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: His trainer Robert Garcia, Robert Garcia mentioned that Mikey is a fighter A-Class. I hadn’t seen anything during that bout that showed me he was a Class-A outstanding fighter. Yes, he won the fight. Yes, he did everything to win the fight, what he needed to be, but I haven’t seen anything outstanding and I haven’t seen him being a A-Class fighter.

TODD duBOEF: Heeey, the promoter and the fighter think alike! Can you believe this? (laughing)

Who is the one guy you want if you are going to have a big fight by the end of the year?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: At this point it really doesn’t matter what I want. I was asked that question before the Jason Sosa bout came off. I told them, before this bout, after the Sosa bout again I was asked by reporters who I want to fight. I said it really doesn’t matter who I want – it is more like who is available. I am preparing for one big name, one big fight, and the fight like Sosa and this upcoming fight on Saturday – it is just like my training session for ONE BIG FIGHT, then the one big fight is going to bring up and you have my promoter on the line, and you can ask them, what are they trying to bring me in the ring. I am a boxer. I am not a picker. Whoever is in front of me I am going to be fighting this guy.

Do you think the Salido fight is still a possibility?

TODD duBOEF: I think a little bit of the perspective is that we really wanted to launch the ESPN thing with Lomachenko preferably in a rematch with Salido. We were getting representation that he was going to take a tune-up fight in May and then Lomachenko, but they kind of dragged this out then saying he had a hurt hand, he couldn’t make the weight. Listen, our business model is a little different than what our business model has been in the past when we had to wait on fighters to make fights to stay active. So what we did, we said listen, Vasyl is a commercially incredible fighter that we want the public to see. He is not going to be held up by an opponent or a situation. We are going to make him available so that millions of people can watch him on ESPN and can see his story and can see his brilliance and that’s why we pivoted to Marriaga. If Salido comes back and says ‘I am ready for the fight and I’m sorry about all of this stuff, I am healthy now, let’s go’ then I talk to Vasyl and Egis and we are all in. We are here to make good matches and to give the public what they want.

Since he will be available to millions more viewers how much of a bigger star can he become?

TODD duBOEF: I don’t want to make a judgment just on the fight. We are talking about and we can all analyze the two hour or two and a half hour block on ESPN or if it’s on FOX or CBS, HBO or Showtime. I think what everybody should take note of is all of the commotion leading up to the fight on the ESPN platforms. That is the shoulder programming that is driving awareness to it and that is going to be invaluable. I think not only is it going to drive the audience to the fight but also it is going to make Vasyl noticeable to the general sports fan and that’s what we are looking for. So tune in to ESPN all week and you are going to be seeing tons of promos, snippets and interviews, the weigh-ins are live and everything in a 360 perspective and following our sport like they used to. It’s not just about fight night.

What is your perspective on fighting Salido?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Yes, I would like to fight Salido but probably within a one-year period. If it is longer than that I am not going to be interested in fighting him because that bout wouldn’t mean anything. But in general I would like to get back in the ring with him to see how much better I can be in the second bout.

What do you think about Marriaga?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: I did see his bout against Oscar Valdez and what can I tell about him? He is strong and his conditioning is good. He has skills so I think about, what everybody else thinks is going to be easy, I don’t think it is going to be easy for me.

Did you see the Berchelt-Miura fight a couple weeks ago and would you like to fight him?

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Yes, I really would like to fight Miguel Berchelt [WBC super featherweight champion] to unify the titles and I would like to have one more belt into my collection.

What do you think you can do to increase your star power?

TODD duBOEF: Vasyl has nine fights. This guy has nine fights. You tell me somebody after nine fights, or ten fights. He has a very limited number of fights and his appeal right now is very high for the limited number of bouts he has had. We believe by flipping the switch and doing the fights on ESPN and exposing him to the masses I think his star power is going to grow when people see him, when they see him train, when they see how he fights. But right now, with his limited number of fights – most guys are righting four-rounders off television, so I think he is doing damn well.

In closing…

VASYL LOMACHENKO: Yes, ii would like thank everybody for your attention and I would like to thank everybody for putting my name in all of your stories and I will see you all on August 5th and you guys are going to see another great show.

Ray Beltran – how is the Green Card progress?

STEVE FEDER: Sure, we were going to file right after the Jonathan Maicello fight in May [one-punch second knockout victory] but once we heard that Top Rank had made the deal with ESPN – the more press we have collected the better – and we had a great response after the last fight, we decided to hold off the application until after this fight. So in two weeks, after this fight is over, we are going to file. All of the press coverage we get for this fight will go in with the application.

How do you feel about getting another title shot?

RAY BELTRAN: Well, you know I think after all of the hard work I got respect which is very hard to get and it is very exciting for me and my team and we all feel great about it.

After your last title fight loss, did you think it was over or you could build your self back up again?

RAY BELTRAN: No, I didn’t feel that. The way I felt with my abilities I would be able to make it back for another title shot and it was just a matter of time.

TODD duBOEF: Ray did what he had to do and was explosive in doing that when the opportunities came up. When he fought underneath Crawford – sensational one-punch knockouts – in Omaha and in New York – and you want to know what? That’s telegenic. People want to see that. He didn’t just sleepwalk through the performance. He went out and made a statement, and you get bonus for that, and we thought bringing Ray back right away, sending him once again to a larger audience, hoping that he will be better and have a terrific performance on Saturday.

How do you feel about being on ESPN and how that may help you in getting a Green Card?

RAY BELTRAN: I feel great and it makes me think about those days when the Friday Night Fights were on ESPN and a lot of people and friends are gong to be able to see my fight and they are going to be able to see who I am and I can’t wait to be on ESPN. I am so happy to be part of Top Rank and this new project and my promoter gives me all of these new opportunities.

Thoughts on Bryan Vasquez?

RAY BELTRAN: He is a very tough opponent. I know he is going to fight. We both have different goals. He’s got a big opportunity to fight me and I have a big challenge in front of me. My focus is on the title and also on the Green Card situation, which is my big motivation to win the fight. He is a good fighter and I want to impress the people and I just can’t wait to get in the ring but I am very confident by the way it is going in the gym and my mind is 100% right now.

What is it like getting in the ring knowing you are fighting for the Green Card?

RAY BELTRAN: Let me tell you how I look at it – when you have doubt you are not going to make it. I have no doubt and I have motivation. I believe it is going to go good. I really believe in myself and I believe in my team. I just can’t wait to be in the ring and I am so excited to get in the ring and put on a good show for the fans. It is my time and my moment and I can’t wait.

When did you begin the process of trying to obtain the Green Card?

STEVE FEDER: As soon as this fight is over, since it is on ESPN and we wanted to take advantage of the media coverage, and within two weeks after this fight, we are going to file. We have been collecting all of the letters of support then we will file and that is the first part of the process and they will look at it then and tell you what the application looks like before the final submission and if it needs tweaking they will let us know – we pay a little extra for that – and from that point on it is about a four to six-month process. It could come sooner but that is typical.

How have you been in the USA for so long and not have your Green Card just yet?

RAY BELTRAN: When I crossed the border I was illegal for nine years then I asked if I could apply for my Visa since I had been here for 12 years and I felt the weight was off my shoulders because I had my Visa. Before that it was a lot of risk for me because if I got pulled over and he’s not having a good day he could call immigration and I would be in big trouble.

STEVE FEDER: As it is now, once Ray stops fighting, he cannot get a work Visa and he cannot stay – he would be here illegally and we need to get this accomplished before it gets to that. He is hoping that he fights one more time this year then he gets a shot at the world title – he will be a US citizen. His P-1 visa allows him to fight in the U.S.

What if he loses? Does he need victory to stay here?

STEVE FEDER: At this point, because we want to get into the mandatory position with either Linares or Garcia or Flanagan, this is a crucial fight that we are up against right now. Once this fight is over with, we have to file. At that point, obviously he has no intentions of losing, so we don’t even put that in our mindset, so Ray would have proven enough that he is at that elite status and at that point we would feel OK. The reason we didn’t do it after New York was because we wanted to have more press coverage on our side, so we knew it was worth waiting for.

Do the big fights he has had not count for the status he needs?

STEVE FEDER: It counts, but it would be equivalent to an actor winning an Academy Award or an Olympian winning the Gold Medal. It takes so much that once you apply you do not want to get rejected. The idea that he was a top fighter, yes that helps. He fought Crawford and that was a unanimous decision and it was at the No. 2 position. He is in a better spot now than he ever has been.

When he fought Crawford he was the mandatory…

STEVE FEDER: Yes, but he has had four knockouts in a row going into Saturday’s fight and he has a good run. Right now, this was the best time to do it. Right now he has been sitting at this No. 2 spot and he keeps moving up the rankings – that’s what they want to see – to see him maintain it. Just being there in that position wouldn’t be enough – what he is doing now is better which is maintaining that position over a period of time. It’s about Ray’s body of work — his career. In essence it’s about continuity and sustained activity at an elite level — rather than one specific fight.

So a year at #2 is better than 3 months at #1

STEVE FEDER: Exactly

RAY BELTRAN: Thank you for taking the time to pay attention to the Ray Beltran life story. I hope that all of my fans are there for the fight and they tune in on ESPN and I want to thank ESPN and all of the people that are involved in this event and I can’t wait to put on a great show and to be back on ESPN as soon as possible again.

TODD duBOEF: If you can’t be at the fights we hope you tune in on Saturday and make a note to tune into ESPN all week to see the promos that they are going to be doing – see the bumpers and see the countdown clock, see the snippets and see the stuff they are going to be bringing you guys and the general fans creating awareness to the fight on Saturday.

www.fightnews.com/lomachenko-beltran-qa-transscript/2141

By Miguel Rivera

WBO Junior Lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko mentioned that he was fully preparing to face Mexico’s Orlando ‘Siri’ Salido in a long awaited rematch on August 5, but then he was advised that Salido was out – and Colombian Miguel Marriaga was placed in the contest.

Vasyl was eager to avenge the only loss of his pro career to Salido, and an economic agreement had been reached but an injury to Salido’s hand prevented the deal from being finalized, and then Marriaga, who comes back from a solid fight against WBO 126-pound champion Oscar Valdez, was thrown in the mix.

“It really has not changed anything in my preparation, I was preparing for Salido but the opponent was changed. You have to be ready for the opponent they put in front of you and you have to give a good fight,” said Lomachenko to ESPN Deportes.

During the announcement of the card, Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KO’s) showed respect for Marriaga (25-2, 21 KO’s), who did the same, and promoter Bob Arum stressed that fights like this, and the one earlier this month with Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn.

“Boxing has been one of the major sports for many years, in the 1970s and 1980s, boxing was an essential sport not only in the United States but throughout the world. We’re working with ESPN to showcase these fighters and help boxing recover that top spot,”Arum said of the deal he had made with ESPN.

“We saw on July 1, Pacquiao-Horn’s ESPN broadcast had a tremendous audience, and Lomachenko and Marriaga, (Raymundo) Beltran and (Bryan) Vasquez will offer tremendous action to the public throughout the United States and the world, we are very proud to be part of this tremendous event.”

Finally, Marriaga expressed that he is not interested in the fact that Lomachenko is favorite. ”

It is normal that suddenly he is the favorite, he is the champion, but we are prepared, we come to fight, we’re coming to stage a war and God allows everything to go well,” he said.

www.boxingscene.com/lomachenko-i-preparing-salido-ready-marriaga–118729?print_friendly=1

By Steve Kim

While WBO super featherweight titlist, Vasyl Lomachenko, has an August 5th assignment against Miguel Marriaga at the Microsoft Theater at LA Live on ESPN, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank says it wont be the last time we see ‘Hi-Tech’ in 2017.

“He’s going to fight again this year and I think Lomachenko is the one guy that could really deal with fighting four times a year,” said the veteran promoter, who says that under their new partnership with ESPN that all of their boxers will be afforded the opportunity to fight more often than in the past.

Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KO’s) last fought more than twice in a calendar year in 2014.

Back on April 8th, Lomachenko out-classed Jason Sosa in nine rounds in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Arum plans to keep the two-time Olympic gold medalist as active as possible.

“It’ll be a minimum of three (fights) but I would hope to do four and I would hope to get a hold of some opponents that we could then promote and make big pay-per-view fights down the road for Lomachenko next year,” Arum said.

But this wont just apply to the gifted Ukrainian, Arum noted to BoxingScene.com – “We’re re-doing all our contracts to guarantee our fighters three fights a year – minimum. And use our best best efforts to give them four.”

There used to be a time when all boxers – even the ones at the championship level – performed much more often. So what happened?

“It was like the Garden of Eden, ‘when the premium cable (networks) floated more money than the over-the-air networks were paying and we all bit into the apple because it was juicy and good, we ended up poisoning ourselves,” Arum explained last week at a press conference for Lomachenko-Marriaga.

www.boxingscene.com/top-rank-keep-lomachenko-others-more-active–118650

By Keith Idec Promoter

http://www.boxingscene.com/lomachenko-marriaga-on-85-crawford-indongo-on-819-espn–118044

Top Rank announced its next two main events late Thursday night in its new partnership with ESPN.

The basic-cable network will air a super featherweight title bout between champion Vasyl Lomachenko and Miguel Marriaga on August 5. Two weeks later, ESPN will broadcast a full 140-pound championship unification fight that’ll match Terence Crawford against Julius Indongo.

Ukraine’s Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs), who owns the WBO 130-pound championship, and Colombia’s Marriaga (25-2, 21 KOs) will square off at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Crawford (31-0, 22 KOs), the WBC/WBO super lightweight champion, will encounter Namibia’s Indongo (22-0, 11 KOs), the IBF/IBO/WBA 140-pound champion, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska, about a one-hour drive from Crawford’s hometown of Omaha.

Lomachenko and Crawford are generally regarded as two of the top five boxers, pound-for-pound, in the sport.

While facing Indongo represents a shot a full unification for the highly skilled Crawford, Lomachenko’s opponent is coming off a loss. Mexico’s Oscar Valdez (22-0, 19 KOs), the WBO featherweight champion, defeated Marriaga by unanimous decision in their 12-round fight April 22 at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

“Pound for pound, no one can match the talent of Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN.com. “They drew the best ratings on premium cable this year [HBO], and now everyone will be able to see them when they defend their world titles in all-action fights in August, live on ESPN.

” Crawford and Lomachenko have become two of the most-watched fighters in bouts broadcast by HBO over the past couple years, but ESPN is available in millions more homes than HBO.

ESPN’s partnership with Bob Arum’s Top Rank will officially begin Saturday night, when the network will televise the Manny Pacquiao-Jeff Horn welterweight title fight from Brisbane, Australia, Horn’s hometown.

Their scheduled 12-round fight for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title will take place Sunday afternoon in Brisbane, where a crowd of 60,000 is expected at Suncorp Stadium, but it will air Saturday night in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

Date:   Saturday, April 8, 2017

WBO JR. LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, USA

Promoter:  Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:  Kenny Chevalier

Judges:   John Gradowski (89-82),  Ron McNair (89-82),   Paul Wallace (90-81)

Results:   Vasyl Lomachenko  dominates Jason Sosa over nine rounds before Sosa’s corner  stopped the fight, allowing Lomachenko to retain his WBO Junior Lightweight title.

TV:   HBO

sosa-lomachenko

By Miguel Rivera –

There have already been a few upsets in 2017, and super featherweight contender Jason Sosa is ready to create another one.

This coming Wednesday he will travel to Maryland for the most important challenge of his career, when he faces WBO world champion Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) next Saturday night in an HBO televised main event.

“We are already finishing with the preparation, it was excellent, hard. The condition that I’m in has made me very happy and I’m ready for April 8,” Sosa told ESPN Deportes about the fight at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland  “I am very grateful to Vasyl Lomachenko and his team for giving me the fight, but he is not a perfect fighter and we will see that.”

Jason said that he did a lot of work on everything… the physical part, the technical part, the speed, the defense, counter-punching, and everything that is necessary to beat a heavily favored fighter.

“Lomachenko is a fighter that you have to respect, he has brought good things to boxing but I am mentally ready. I have not been the favorite before, but I know that beating Lomachenko is going to change my life and that’s what I want. I want to be the best boxer in the world. I know I can reach my goal,” Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs) said.

“I have a little bit of everything, I am a boxer, I am brave, but above everything I am intelligent. I do not take anything away from Orlando Salido who already beat [Lomachenko] and he is a good fighter, but I have more than Salido and also I’m younger. This April 8th, Lomachenko is going to get shocked.”

Sosa, who vacated the World Boxing Association ‘regular’ title in order to take this fight, has no regrets over making that decision and hopes to claim a new world title for Puerto Rico.

www.boxingscene.boxingscene.com/sosa-ive-got-more-salido-lomachenko-getting-shocked–115202?print_friendly=1

 

arum-loma-596x400 Photos: Mikey Williams/Top Rank –

Undefeated champions and 2012 Ukrainian Olympic medalists Vasyl Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk and Oleksandr Gvozdyk hosted a media workout at World Boxing Gymnasium in Oxnard, Calif. on Tuesday. All three are in deep training for their title defenses, which will take place Saturday, April 8, at The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.

Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) will be defending his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight world title against former World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight world champion Jason “El Canito” Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KOs). 2012 Olympic gold medalist Usyk (11-0, 10 KOs) will be defending his WBO cruiserweight world title against Top-10 contender Mike Hunter (12-0, 8 KOs). 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Gvozdyk (12-0, 10 KOs) will be defending his NABF light heavyweight title against Yuniesky Gonzalez (18-2, 14 KOs). 

Vasyl Lomachenko: “Jason Sosa is very strong, is motivated, wants to win and he can fight all of the twelve rounds. It will be a hard fight. That I know.

“My top 3 pound for pound list is GGG, Kovalev and Crawford. I don’t want to be number one until I deserve it. That means fighting and winning against two or three world champions. After that I may be Number One but for sure not now.

“I like the weight division I am in. I have no problems making weight. I am not that anxious to leave my division and not sure I will ever fight at 140. It’s hard to look ahead but right now I am comfortable in my division where I have plenty of champions to fight against.”

Oleksandr Gvozdyk: “I am going into a serious fight against Yuniesky Gonzalez. He is strong, experienced, puts pressure on you, tries to drive you into the ropes. He’s a tough guy and I have to deal with him. I work hard every single day trying to be the best in my division.”

Alexsandr Usyk: “I have watched video of Michael Hunter and have a good idea of what he is all about. It’s going to be a great fight. As an amateur I was trained by the best – Anatoly Lomachenko – just look at who he has produced as great professional fighters.”

Lomachenko, Usyk and Gvozdyk were joined at their media workout by two-time Lithuanian Olympian “Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas, who will be on the April 8 non-televised undercard in a six-round welterweight bout.

“Mean Machine” Egidijus Kavaliauskas: “I do get real mean the moment I leave the locker room, walk up the ring steps and get onto the canvas. And this is going to a big year for me. I am getting closer to my goal, a world title fight.”

The event has been sold out for weeks. Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Peltz Boxing Promotions, K2 Promotions, K2 Promotions Ukraine, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Kiddar, the three title fights will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

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www.fightnews.com/Boxing/lomachenko-usyk-gvozdyk-workout-398592/nggallery/page/2

lomachenko-walters-fight-4

By Ryan Burton –

Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV – Shortly after Vasyl Lomachenko’s seven round thrashing of Nicholas Walters in a HBO televised main event, elite trainer Robert Garcia spoke to BoxingScene.com about the 28-year-old phenomenon.

Prior to the fight, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Andre Ward had been considered the top two fighters in the world. In their most recent fights both men won close decision victories that some observers felt could have been scored draws or even gone the other way.

Given the dominant fashion of Lomachenko’s victory, Garcia believes an argument could be made that he is the top fighter in the world pound for pound.

“I think so [that Lomachenko is pound for pound number one]. I would say that. Skills wise ain’t nobody better than him honestly. He’s the real deal skills wise. I think Walters should have tested him a little more but to me he didn’t even try,” Garcia told BoxingScene.com.

Lomachenko compiled an amateur record of 396-1 with Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He is now 7-1 as a professional with 5 knockouts.

Lomachenko captured his first world title in June of 2014, dominating former US Olympian Gary Russell to win his in his third pro bout. He matched Saensak Muangsurin’s record for fewest fights needed to win a world championship.

The only blemish on his pro record was a loss to Mexico’s Orlando Salido in Lomachenko’s second professional fight — when the vacant WBO featherweight title on the line.

It was an embarrassing first defeat for Walters as his decision to quit in the middle of the fight dropped his record to 26-1-1 with 21 knockouts.

Lomachenko said after the bout that he next wants to fight WBC super featherweight champion Francisco Vargas.

www.boxingscene.com/robert-garcia-lomachenko-pound-pound-number-one–111175?print_friendly=1

Date:   Saturday, November 26, 2016

WBO JR. LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Promoter:  Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   Richard De Cuir

Referee:  Tony Weeks

Judges:   Adalaide Byrd; Glenn Trowbridge; Burt A. Clements

Results:  WBO Jr. Lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) retained his title with a 7th round TKO victory over Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters.

TV:  USA HBO

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Two-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) and unbeaten former world champion Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters (26-0-1, 21 KOs) spoke to the press on Monday about their HBO clash this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Vasyl Lomachenko: I think it is going to be very, very hard for me in the first four rounds, then after that I will be trying to terminate the bout.

Nicholas Walters: I don’t think this is a different Lomachenko from the guy that lost to Salido – he is the same Lomachenko. They say a leopard cannot change his spots right? Since he did lose to Salido, he can be as technical all he wants, but I am in the hurt business – this is a gladiator sport and I fight all of my fights like that, I fight like a gladiator. He can come in with his technical fight on Saturday and I am going to be up for it and put on a helluva show on Saturday night.

Lomachenko-Walters Q@A Transcript

BOB ARUM: This is my 2000th event and this fight is worthy of being my 2,000th event. Nicholas Walters is the hardest puncher in these divisions — they don’t call him the “Axe Man” for nothing and he always give 100%. And Vasyl Lomachenko is an unbelievable technician who has done really the impossible, winning world titles in two divisions in a record-few seven professional fights. So I look for a Fight of the Year candidate on Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and everybody can watch it live on HBO in addition to the replay of the controversial fight from Saturday between Kovalev and Ward. And what I think is the Fight of the Year candidate Lomachenko vs. Walters. I’m a big fan of both guys. I think Walters is a tremendous fighter and I enjoy the way he fights.

LOMACHENKO: I would like to congratulate Bob Arum on his 2000th event and I am proud to be on his 2000th fight card. I wish him very good health and I hope he can make a 2,500th card so I can be on that also.

Why the interest in fighting Walters now when there were trepidations before?

LOMACHENKO: This is a very important bout for me because many boxing experts and many people in boxing rank Walters as the highest-rated fighter in our division. He is a very hard puncher and a very good boxer and for me it’s a very important thing to me to fight the best and it’s very important for me because everyone says he is a very good fighter.

How do you think this fight will go with Walters since he is a bigger boxer?

LOMACHENKO: I don’t know. I cannot answer that question. I can’t tell you exactly how it’s going to go or tell you what is going to happen in the ring. That will depend on how it begins in the ring. It is boxing and everything is going to happen very fast.

Where did you learn your creativity? Were there any boxers you watch while younger that you learned from?

LOMACHENKO: First of all, I would like you to know that everything that I have is what my father created in me and my father put everything together into me. Secondly I am a workaholic – I work hard. I do not cheat myself in training, I work very hard and somehow God has given me great balance that helps me put everything together.

There is a video on You Tube that compares Vasyl to The Matrix. Have you seen the video? What is your reaction? There are many people outside of boxing that have seen this video…

LOMACHENKO: This is exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to let different people know, people outside of boxing, to know me. I think the boxing game is one that people have forgotten about and they are not enjoying it as much. I want to bring back and show how interesting boxing can be. I am the motherboard.

Do you have a plan for the future? What do you see as the endgame?

LOMACHENKO: For sure I was thinking about that, and my contract is over in six or seven months and that’s when I am thinking about finishing my career (laughing at his joke).

BOB ARUM: I would like to say this; that Vasyl Lomachenko is technically the best fighter that I have seen since the early Muhammad Ali. There is nobody that I have seen, and there have been a lot of great technical fighters that I have seen – Alexis Arguello was one, Floyd Mayweather certainly, Manny Pacquiao – but there has been nobody with the skills that Vasyl Lomachenko has.

You have fought a lot of amateurs – when you fight a fighter like Walters who sometimes swings for the fences, what typically has happened in those type fights?

LOMACHENKO: If we are talking about the amateurs – the punchers never got anywhere in their careers. Usually three rounds was not enough time to get ready for the fight. The punchers are professional boxers not amateur boxers.

How do you see this fight playing out?

LOMACHENKO: I think it is going to be very, very hard for me in the first four rounds, then after that I will be trying to terminate the bout.

This is a big fight, but how do you see Lomachenko in the bigger fights in the larger arenas?

BOB ARUM: Lomachenko has a huge upside. This is the second world title in as many divisions in seven professional fights – that has never happened before, and he is going to win more world titles as he goes up in weight and there are going to be very interesting guys for him to fight. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that he and Manny [Pacquiao] could fight sometime next year. Lomachenko wants challenges and he is a tremendous talent. His upside is enormous and a lot of people are watching him — not just boxing fans — because he is an unbelievable talent. They see him on You Tube and on HBO and have said what an unbelievable talent he is.

Do you want to fight Manny Pacquiao?

LOMACHENKO: Yes, of course I would like to fight Pacquiao, but not in the next fight.

What makes this a can’t-miss fight?

BOB ARUM: They call Walters the Axe Man for a reason — he searches and destroys. He is a tremendous puncher and he is in with a technician who has enormous talent in boxing not only defensively but offensively, so this is a can’t-miss fight and I want the people to realize that not only do I believe that it will be a Fight of the Year candidate, I believe that if Vasyl Lomachenko is successful, he should be right up there for consideration for Fighter of the Year.

Do you feel like you may want to slow Lomachenko down a little bit?

BOB ARUM: From the first day I met him, when he sat down with me and we discussed his future, I was concerned because people were offering him large signing bonuses, he told me that he didn’t want a signing bonus; he wanted to earn his own money. All he wanted was challenges that I would present to him. That’s what I am going to do. He doesn’t want any gimmes – he wants every fight to be a challenge. So at 130-pounds, who is more of a challenge than Nicholas Walters? I am not going to slow him down. He knows his ability a lot more than I do. And you have to give his father credit – his father is probably the best trainer in boxing today and I say that without any question, because look what the father produced from the Ukrainian Olympic team in London. Oleksandr Usuyk who is now a cruiserweight champion, Alexandr Gvozdyk, a light heavyweight who you saw last week on the Ward-Kovalev pay-per-view, who is a future champion – they are all Ukrainians and they were all trained by Vasyl’s father. So he has a lot going for him.

How will you deal with the reach advantage that Walters has?

LOMACHENKO: Boxers always have an advantage over another, whether it is a longer reach or more weight or a taller guy. How I will use his reach advantage to my advantage, you will find out on Saturday.

What do you think when someone of Bob’s stature speaks so highly of you?

LOMACHENKO: It will give me another motivation because a lot of people may look at that or hear that and think that maybe it’s not true. When I hear that it gives me a lot of motivation to make me work harder in my training to prove that what Bob is saying. I don’t have the chance to make any mistakes. I have to prove that Bob is right.

——– lomanchenko-vs-walters ———

Do you think the layoff will affect you?

WALTERS: The layoff? I am in the motivation business, so the layoff is definitely part of the boxing business. As a fighter I have always been in the gym working out and everything so the layoff wouldn’t even bother me and I wouldn’t take the fight if I thought I wasn’t going to be ready for the fight. I don’t even think for a minute that I only want to please Nicholas. I want to please the fans and my country, both Panama and Jamaica and all of my fans in Mexico and all over the world. I am not just taking the fight for Nicholas. I am taking the fight for everybody and come Saturday I am going to be ready for the fight – just like all of the other fights.

How do you feel about taking on this fighter that is a two-division world champion in only seven pro fights and that everyone is saying is so great?

WALTERS: The achievement is good for him. And Bob knows what he is talking about since he has been in the business for 50 years. Even Muhammad Ali lost fights. I don’t think this is a different Lomachenko from the guy that lost to Salido – he is the same Lomachenko. They say a leopard cannot change his spots right? Since he did lose to Salido, he can be as technical all he wants, but I am in the hurt business – this is a gladiator sport and I fight all of my fights like that, I fight like a gladiator. He can come in with his technical fight on Saturday and I am going to be up for it and put on a helluva show on Saturday night.

You don’t see much development in Lomachenko and feel he is ripe for the taking with your power punching?

WALTERS: Each fight is different and I am not going to tell you that I am going to fight Lomachenko the same way that Salido fought him. Of course, only a fool doesn’t learn from his mistakes, doesn’t learn from his mistakes in the ring. He has been training and working out so I know he is a more complete fighter than his first fight. I am not even worried, so to speak, but I know that he has learned and is a better fighter from that loss. But it is still a blemish on his record that he lost. With that in mind he has tasted defeat and I have never tasted defeat. We have stayed undefeated and we are going to keep it that way this Saturday.

What would this victory mean to you and your career?

WALTERS: I don’t know. This fight for me is just as important as my last fight. Each fight I have I fight hard and I fight tough. In each fight for me I defend my undefeated record. Each fight for me I am defending my pride. This victory would be a big victory because we know that this guy is no easy fight. We are not saying that Lomachenko is an easy opponent. We know he is a top fighter and a tough fighter. We are just saying that this Saturday and this victory is going to put the Axe Man to where I want to be and hopefully next year I start making over $1 million per fight. That’s what we are aiming at. So we win Saturday then move on to other opponents.

In Closing…

WALTERS: I don’t have a lot to say, just that the Axe Man is going to show that he is the real Krusher on Saturday night. Not some softee, but the real Axe Man the real Krusher will be in the ring on Saturday night.

BOB ARUM: I am absolutely thrilled that this fight between Lomachenko and Walters will be my 2000th boxing event and will definitely be a candidate for Fight of the Year with two great fighters. The HBO telecast will begin at 10:35 p.m. ET / 10:30 p.m. PT. The Kovalev-Ward replay will also be part of the HBO telecast. That fight’s scoring was very controversial so if you haven’t seen it this is your chance. Then watch the Fight of the Year, I believe, between Lomachenko and Walters. There were only 60 tickets left this morning at The Cosmopolitan and it will probably be sold out by the end of today so the best way to see the fight, if you don’t have a ticket, is on HBO.

www.fightnews.com/Boxing/lomachenko-walters-talk-upcoming-collision-360558

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Vasyl Lomachenko is not your average boxer or paper champion. Prizefighters like him are rare, so much so that he’s become a world champion in only his third professional fight- a feat, boxing news say, that takes some boxers their whole career to achieve, and many even don’t.

So it’s fitting for a pug of his level to receive opportunities that escape many, such as being aimed at as a possible opponent for legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao.

Many boxers strive, contend, and make a case for them to even be pitched against a fighter like Manny Pacquiao. But Bob Arum sees Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1) as the ideal match for the Filipino boxing sensation.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters is scheduled for Nov. 26th and boxing news dwell on the possibility of him facing the Pac-man next.

“I like this fight, but I’m too small for this fight,” Lomachenko said in a report by BoxingNews24. “I need maybe one year to prepare for this fight.”

Will Manny Pacquiao still be competing for one year after Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters?

Both are of the same height and reach, but Lomachenko competes at super featherweight, while Manny Pacquiao is in the welterweight division. A catch weight at 135 lbs. should make sense.

Nicholas Walters (26-0-1), on the other hand, remains unfazed by whatever skill Lomachenko lays on the table. He’s a knockout artist, and if someone wants to have an idea of what he’s capable of, his bout against Nonito Donaire should be a perfect example of it.

“I’m getting ready like never before. Just tell Vasyl that his night is approaching. I’m the best 130-pound,” Nicholas Walters said according to BoxingScene.

The only blotch on Nicholas Walters ‘s undefeated record is a draw against Jason Sosa on Dec. 2015.

Most fans believe Nicholas Walters, nicknamed the “Axe Man” won that match, but he hasn’t fought for and has reportedly gained much weight before preparing against Vasyl Lomachenko. Will ring rust be a factor in Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters?

Vasyl Lomachenko vs Nicholas Walters may possibly be a fight of the year candidate, boxing news says, a bout looked forward to for their contrasting styles, of power versus finesse and skill.

www.sportsrageous.com/boxing/boxing-news-vasyl-lomachenko-vs-nicholas-walters-fighting-manny-pacquiao/54238/

i In just his second pro fight, Vasyl Lomachenko, left, lost a split decision against Orlando Salido in 2014. Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports –

LAS VEGAS — On June 4, junior lightweight titlist Francisco Vargas and former titleholder Orlando Salido battled to a draw in an epic action fight that is easily the leading contender for fight-of-the-year honors.

It was exactly what most expected as Vargas was coming off a dramatic comeback knockout of Takashi Miura to win the 130-pound belt in November in the 2015 fight of the year, and Salido is almost always in an exciting fight.

In fact, the fight with Vargas was Salido’s fourth consecutive ridiculous action fight, all of which were fight-of-the-year contenders. There were also two sick fights last year against Rocky Martinez (a loss and a draw, both debatable results) and an 11th-round knockout of Terdsak Kokietgym in a knockdown-filled slugfest.

The fight before Kokietgym, Salido scored a split-decision win against Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs), the brilliant two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist fighting for a featherweight title in only his second pro fight. Salido got the better of him, although not by much, in their March 2014 fight.

Now it’s time for Salido (43-13-4, 30 KOs), a fan favorite from Mexico, to figure out his next move. At 35 and with a ton of wars on his resume, he wants (and deserves) the biggest possible fight for the most amount of money.

A rematch with Vargas was the obvious move. However, Vargas was badly busted up in the fight and his team is not interested in an immediate rematch, and who can blame them? He will heal up and then look for a fight that won’t be nearly as demanding, with the potential for a rematch against Salido in the second half of 2017.

That makes the obvious match for Salido a rematch with Lomachenko, who moved up in weight and knocked out Martinez to win a junior lightweight title in June. He would love nothing more than to exact revenge on Salido. It is a fight that is certainly makeable with no promotional or television network entanglements.

Salido promoter Zanfer Promotions wants to make it. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Lomachenko’s promoter, has designs on putting it together this fall, perhaps at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, site of Vargas-Salido. HBO, which aired the first fight, should have interest as it is in the Lomachenko business.

“Lomachenko is the fight that Orlando wants as long as he’s paid,” Sean Gibbons, Salido’s manager, told ESPN.com last week in the Terence Crawford-Viktor Postol media center at the MGM Grand. “At StubHub, the people will be there for him. At this point it’s strictly business. He’ll be 36 in November. At this point you want to make him the best fight for the most money.

“If he can’t get Lomachenko and get paid like he feels he should he will go to Mexico and have a stay-busy fight waiting for Vargas. That’s the fight people want to see. He’s finally in position to get paid. He has fought four fights in the last three years that were either fight of the year or candidates for fight of the year. The guy does not make a bad fight.”

Salido has taken short money plenty of times, but Gibbons said he would not do so again for rematches with either Vargas or Lomachenko. But he also said their side would not be unreasonable.

“We’re not Nicholas Walters,” Gibbons said, referring to the former featherweight titlist who turned down career-high money twice to avoid Lomachenko. “We’re here to make the fight, not kill the fight. Tell Bob to get creative. He’s a Hall of Fame promoter. He knows how to come up with the funds.”

Gibbons said whatever direction Salido goes in it should be figured out in the next week or so.  Salido says he wants to fight Lomachenko again, especially with Vargas unavailable.

“You did not see the best Orlando Salido in the first fight [with Lomachenko]. I had issues with my weight and I want to put all doubts aside by beating Lomachenko again,” Salido told ESPN.com, referring to the fact that he missed weight and was stripped of his featherweight belt. “I am tired of hearing all the excuses why I beat him the first time.

“The media says it was his second fight. He chose to fight me too soon. Then they say it was the referee. Then they say it was the weight. Enough with all the excuses. Let’s do it again and I will show everyone how a real Mexican fights! I am not a Frankenstein boxer like Rocky Martinez. I have real skills and, at the end of the day, Lomachenko can make a million excuses for what happened the first time but he will see I have his number when we fight again. I have told my manager, Sean Gibbons, and my promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions, go and get me the biggest and best fights that are out there.”

Salido also took a swipe at Vargas for the disinterest in an immediate rematch.

“I realize that Francisco Vargas does not have the heart of a real champion and give me the rematch I deserve so I turn to a fighter that wants to fight a real champion, Vasyl Lomachenko,” Salido said. “I have never ducked a challenge in my 20 years of boxing and I will not start now. This is how all the great ones have done it — Julio Caesar Chavez, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Israel Vasquez, Juan Manuel Marquez. Real Mexicans do not make excuses. They fight the fights the fans want to see.”

www.espn.com/blog/dan-rafael/post/_/id/16450/salido-wants-rematch-with-lomachenko

 

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By Steve Kim

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).

It was a fight not only marred by numerous low blows that were landed by the Mexican, but Salido failed to make the 126-pound weight limit and lost his belt on the scales.

Three months later in his very next fight, Lomachenko captured the vacant WBO championship with a twelve round majority decision over Gary Russell Jr.

Salido on the other hand moved up in weight to capture the WBO title at super featherweight with a knockout of Orlando Cruz in October of 2013. He would go on to lose that title to Roman Martinez last April.

Lomachenko on June 11th impressively halted Martinez to win the WBO 130-pound title.

And if it were up to Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, Lomachenko would be getting another crack at the wily Salido (who’s coming off a memorable slugfest against WBC featherweight champion Francisco Vargas – that was ruled a draw).

Salido himself is pushing for the fight and Lomachenko hungers to avenge the only defeat of his professional career.

”We’re looking to bring (Lomachenko) back in October and we’re looking at – among others – Orlando Salido as a big possibility,” said the veteran promoter, who mentioned that HBO has promised him another date from the Ukrainian stylist.

“Orlando wants to fight him, Orlando has a victory over him. That should be a terrific fight, say for StubHub (Center).”

www.boxingscene.com/arum-looks-make-lomachenko-salido-ii-possibly-stubhub–106862?print_friendly=1

Pacquiao, Arum, Roach Photo credit:  Chris Farina / Top Rank –

Veteran promoter Bob Arum is now looking for Manny Pacquiao’s next foe ahead of his impending decision to continue fighting after he gets his job in the senate sorted out to give way for an eight-week training camp to culminate in October planned fight.

In an exclusive interview with Boxing Scene, Arum said he is awaiting Pacquiao’s decision and once he gets a positive feedback he will immediately fly to Manila to make arrangement for Pacquiao’s comeback fight in October this year.

Pacquiao has announced his retirement from boxing right after his trilogy fight against Timothy Bradley last April 9 but he did not discount the possibility of coming back for one or two more fights.

Pacquiao was sworn-in as Philippine senator late this week after winning in the May 9 national elections garnering over 16 million votes to rank seventh in the Top 12 winning candidates.

“Well we gotta see. If he will fight this year, then he will fight next year. We are thinking about him fighting in October if he wants to fight. Once I get the opponent that I am working on – we are working on opponents and once I get that, I will fly over to the Philippines and he will see if his schedule in the senate allows him to train for a fight and participate in a fight.” Arum said.

“I know he wants to continue fighting but the impediment is how labor intensive his work as a Filipino senator is and he is not going to really know that for another week or so. He was just sworn in as a senator yesterday,” he added.

While Arum did not mention Floyd Mayweather as possible opponent in a rematch, he was vocal about Pacquiao facing Vasyl Lomachenko in 2017.

The 28-year-old Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine knocked out Roman Martinez last June 11 to bag the WBO Junior Lightweight title. Lomachenko has only seven pro fights to his credit but his amateur record is very impressive with 396 wins and only one loss.

Lomachenko is the latest hot find of Top Rank who has the potential of becoming a pay-per-view attraction because of his active and aggressive fighting style. There are similarities in the way Lomachenko and Pacquiao behave in the ring. Both of them are southpaws and with awesome power in their left hand. They are likewise noted for their hand and foot speed.

Arum believes Pacquiao will soon announce his decision to continue fighting which is the reason why he is now making a shortlist of Pacquiao’s next possible opponents.

Arum’s Top Rank Promotions holds a promotional contract with Pacquiao until 2017.

www.digitaljournal.com/sports/bob-arum-eyeing-return-fight-for-manny-pacquiao-in-october/article/468410

 

Date:   Saturday, June 11, 2016

WBO JR. LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE BOUT

Location:   Madison Square Garden Theater, New York, NY, USA

Promoter:   Top Rank / Bob Arum

Supervisor:   Francisco Valcarcel, Esq.

Referee:

Judges:

Results:   The WBO Jr. Lightweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez down and counted out in round 5 and Vasyl Lomachenko won the title by KO.

TV:    USA HBO

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Photos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank –

In just his seventh pro fight, WBO featherweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 3 KOs) became a two-weight world champion by dethroning WBO junior lightweight world champion Rocky Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) with spectacular five round KO on Saturday night at the Theater at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko demonstrated his superb speed and movement as he dominated Martinez before knocking him out with a left uppercut / right hook combination. Time was 1:09.

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www.fightnews.com/Boxing/lomachenko-kos-martinez-in-five-to-win-wbo-super-featherweight-world-title-341781

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By Karl Freitag
Photos: Mikey Williams / Top Rank –

WBO junior lightweight world champion Rocky Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) faced off with WBO featherweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs) in advance of their HBO-televised world title showdown on Saturday night in The Theatre at Madison Square Garden, New York City. In the HBO co-feature, WBO #2 rated lightweight champ Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo (21-0, 14 KOs) faces WBC #11 Juan Jose “Piquet” Martinez (25-2, 17 KOs) for the WBO Latino championship. Also, two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming (7-1, 2 KOs) meets Jozsef Ajtai (15-2, 10 KOs) for the WBO international flyweight chmpionship.

Rocky Martinez: “If you want to beat me, than you have to kill me, but to kill me you have to prepared to be killed in the ring too.”

Vasyl Lomachenko: “I’m ready to put up $300,000 of my purse as long as Rocky Martinez will put up $300,000 if I win.”

Felix Verdejo: “In Muhammad Ali’s honor, I will give a great fight.”

JJ Martinez: “We will take that title to Mexico.”

Bob Arum: “We will probably have a bigger audience in China than all of the HBO fights for the last three years combined. We expect an audience of perhaps as many as 50 million homes will be watching the Chinese star Zou Shiming.”

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www.fightnews.com/Boxing/martinez-lomachenko-clash-heats-up-341340

vasyl-lomachenko-boxing-featherweight_3477361 Vasyl Lomachenko is chasing a world title in a second weight division

The Ukrainian amassed a freakish amateur record of 396-1 before turning professional in 2013 at the age of 25.

Having won the WBO world featherweight title in his third fight in the paid ranks, Lomachenko is moving up to challenge the same governing body’s 130lb champion Martinez (29-2-3-KO17).

roman-martinez-boxer_3289546 Roman Martinez is the man defending against Lomachenko

If Lomachenko justifies favouritism and seizes the Puerto Rican’s crown in New York, he will have a short timeframe to decide which division he wishes to compete at for the foreseeable future.

In an interview reported on boxingscene.com, his promoters at Top Rank said: “Vasyl Lomachenko is the featherweight champ. He will enter the ring as champ.

“If he is victorious in challenging Rocky Martinez and winning the WBO 130lb title, he’ll have 10 days to decide what weight he will be campaigning at. If he loses or fights to a draw, he’ll return to his featherweight reign.”

Lomachenko, 28, said: “I’ve never had a problem making featherweight. Of course, it wasn’t easy but it also was never an issue. As far as moving to 130, I got tired of waiting for the other champions, none of whom wanted to fight me.

“I’m hopeful that with the move to 130lbs will come better fights, particularly against the other champions so we can make our dream of becoming undisputed champion.”

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Besides Martinez, the super-featherweight champions are Panama’s WBA king Jezreel Corrales, Mexico’s WBC holder Francisco Vargas and Puerto Rico’s IBF champion Jose Pedraza, who recently defended his title against Liverpool’s Stephen Smith.

www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/10302281/vasyl-lomachenko-can-be-fastest-two-weight-world-champion-by-beating-roman-martinez