Vasyl Lomachenko isn’t a marquee name for casual boxing fans, the non-sold out crowd at the Chelsea is proof of that, but it’s only a matter of time before people flock to watch his hyper-aggressive fighting style and world-class boxing skills.
Those skills were on display during his exciting battle with fellow super featherweight boxer Nicholas Walters at the Chelsea theater in Las Vegas’ Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino.
Both Lomachenko and Walters used the early rounds to feel each other out, as much as their pressuring style would allow, with Lomachenko getting the better of most of the exchanges.
Vasyl’s footwork and hand speed allowed him to pin Walters against the ropes at will and his defense, which is oft-forgotten, was on full display when he decided to circle away from Walter’s lunging right hands. Walters wasn’t without his moments but they were few and far between due to Lomachenko’s pace and game plan.
Lomachenko really opened up his style in the 6th round, finding unique angles to attack Walters and visibly frustrating him. Lomachenko was landing power punches, notably right hooks, to the body and head during the 6th round and it carried over into the 7th.
In the 7th and last round, Vasyl turned up the intensity on Walters and hit him with every punch in the book. His foot speed left Walters searching for answers to a puzzle that he had never seen before and was ill-equipped to solve.
After the round had commenced Walters informed referee Tony Weeks that he wouldn’t return for the 8th round. Bringing back memories of Roberto Duran’s famous “No Mas” surrendering at the hands of Sugar Ray Leonard.
It is one thing to beat someone into a TKO but there’s a special place for fighters who are able to frustrate an opponent into submission.
Lomachenko boast one of boxing’s most impressive amateur boxing records (396-1) and used that experience to not only dominate tonight’s fight but to implant himself on many writer’s P4P list.
His resume in those 8 fights, including his domination of Walters, has been formidable but if he hopes to become the superstar his skills warrant he’ll have to get a signature win under his belt.
Enter, Manny Pacquiao.
Freddie Roach, Manny’s trainer, has said that he’d like to see Manny move back to 140lbs for future fights. A drop in weight could reignite the power that many associate with ‘Pacman.’ In fact, his last KO victory was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto and that took until the 12th round to occur. Most of Manny’s signature KOs came prior to 2008 and when Manny was reigning over the super featherweight division.
Almost a decade later the super featherweight division has found its next power-punching star and it’s only right for the two to collide.
Lomachenko would have to make the 10-pound jump to the junior welterweight (140lbs) division to challenge Manny, which is difficult by all accounts, but the reward of a potential victory over one of this century’s best fighters is worth the risk.
Believe it or not, a fight at 140lbs against Lomachenko is safer for Pacquiao than taking on a proven Terence Crawford. Crawford has proven his skills at that weight and Pacquiao will arguably enter that fight as the smaller man. On the other hand, against Lomachenko he’d be the heavier fighter for the first time since the early-2000s.
If Vasyl manages the weight and is able to come in bigger than Manny physically there’s still questions of his power transitioning two weight classes. Manny has spent the better part of the decade getting hit by fighters who fight at 147lbs & 154lbs, so fighting one that usually boxes at a lighter weight may give Pacquiao the confidence to return to his high-volume style.
Yes, the possible return of ‘Slugfest Manny.’
There are also risks for both fighters, and that’s the case for any fight, but Lomachenko’s risks are less detrimental than many people may anticipate. A loss to a veteran such as Manny Pacquiao won’t stifle Loma’s future because their styles almost guarantee a fan-friendly fight.
The constant action will open casual fans’ eyes to Lomachenko’s talent and make his future fights must-see television. Canelo Alvarez is a prime example of a prospect using a loss to a hall-of-fame caliber veteran, Floyd Mayweather Jr., to propel a boxing career.
It’s time for Top Rank and Bob Arum to prioritize creating their stars of the future and recent boxing history has shown (Mayweather-De La Hoya, Mosley-De La Hoya, Canelo-Mosley, etc.) that it takes established veterans to open the door for these young stars.
Lomachenko is waiting.
subtilise