It
would be hard to for one to dispute that unified WBO/WBA Lightweight world
champion Vasyl Lomachenko hasn’t been one of the fastest rising stars in the
sport of Boxing since his professional debut in October 2013. This of course,
is understandable when talking about a fighter who is regarded as one of, if
not the best amateur boxers of all-time. Prior to his first professional bout,
Lomachenko registered an incredible amateur record of 396-1 finishing his
amateur career by winning Olympic gold for the second consecutive time at the
2012 Olympics in London, England after previously winning gold in 2008.
From
his second professional fight in March 2014 on Lomachenko has competed
exclusively in world championship fights with the lone defeat on his pro record
coming in that first world championship fight in losing a decision to former
world champion Orlando Salido. Although it is tempting to discuss Lomachenko’s
rise in greater detail and also note that his quick rise to professional world
champion in only three professional fights, what is also remarkable is he has
won three world championships in three separate weight classes, becoming the
fastest to accomplish that feat in just twelve professional fights when he
stopped WBA Lightweight world champion Jorge Linares in February of last year
after previously winning world titles in the Featherweight and Jr. Lightweight
divisions.
After
defeating WBO Lightweight world champion Jose Pedraza to become a unified world
champion in December of last year, Lomachenko was sidelined with an injured right
shoulder, which required surgery. Despite wanting to continue to unify the
Lightweight division by setting his sights on a unification bout against IBF
world champion Richard Commey, the potential fight did not take place as Commey
had suffered an injury to his right hand in his last fight in February of this
year.
Rather
than sitting out for what would be a more lucrative fight, Lomachenko instead
chose to fulfill his obligation by facing his mandatory challenger and former
WBA Lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla on Friday night at the Staples
Center in Los Angeles, CA. Although Crolla, who reigned as a world champion in
the Lightweight division from 2015-2016 entered the fight as a significant
underdog, the former world champion entered with a respectable record of 34-6-3,
with 13 Knockouts and had won his previous three fights prior to challenging
Lomachenko.
What
has bedeviled several of Lomachenko’s previous opponents is his ability to use
angles to throw and land combinations. Despite being a heavy favorite over the
challenger, I felt Crolla may have been able to provide the champion with a
test. After all, despite losing his championship to Jorge Linares in September
2016 and failing to avenge that loss in a rematch in March 2017, Crolla is
still one of the best Lightweights in the world and was not someone to take
lightly.
Despite
winning thirty-four of forty-three previous bouts, Crolla was simply no match
for the fighter affectionately referred to by Boxing fans as “Loma.” Lomachenko
consistently pressed the action and frankly dominated the former world champion
before a devastating right hook that appeared to land on the temple sent Crolla
down and out at :58 of the fourth round. While some fans might be critical of
Crolla for not being able to provide much resistance for Lomachenko despite being
the top contender in the WBA’s Lightweight ratings, it is important to remember
that before this fight Crolla had only been stopped once in his career and that
stoppage came in his bout against Derry Mathews in a bout for the British Lightweight
championship in April 2012.
Sometimes
a fight can be summed up by saying one fighter was superior to the other. In
this observer’s eyes, this was one of those fights. Vasyl Lomachenko has established
himself as an elite level fighter, who could well be at the top of some fans
and observers’ respective pound for pound lists. Anthony Crolla is a world
class fighter and former world champion who simply come up against a superior
fighter who is highly skilled.
Even
though there wasn’t much to talk about regarding this fight, what might be
interesting is what may be ahead for Lomachenko coming off of this
victory. Obviously, when a fighter
scores a knockout as Lomachenko did in this fight it will generate both buzz
and interest in what might be next. With
his WBA mandatory obligation out of the way for the time being, yours truly
would like to see Lomachenko face Richard Commey next in a bout to further
unify the Lightweight division.
Perhaps
the biggest fight that can be made currently in the division could be an
encounter between Lomachenko and current WBC world champion Mikey Garcia.
Garcia as most Boxing fans know recently lost his undefeated record in a failed
attempt to win the IBF Welterweight world championship in losing a twelve round
unanimous decision to undefeated world champion Errol Spence last month at
AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX. It is unclear as of this writing as to whether
or not Garcia, who moved up two weight classes to challenge Spence will return
to the 135lb Lightweight division.
In
terms of the current landscape of the Lightweight division, with the world
championship of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) currently vacant,
it leaves Lomachenko, the World Boxing Association (WBA)/World Boxing Organization
(WBO) world champion, Richard Commey the International Boxing Federation (IBF)
world champion, and Mikey Garcia the World Boxing Council (WBC) world champion
atop of the division. While an obvious obstacle that exists, which may prevent
full unification of the division from taking place in rival promoters not being
keen on working together to make significant fights like unification bouts a
reality, if there is enough demand from the public it will lead to fights
taking place.
Whether
or not the Boxing world might see Lomachenko against Commey or Garcia later in
2019 remains to be seen. Vasyl Lomachenko however, has provided Boxing fans and
experts alike with not only a memorable performance in his victory over Anthony
Crolla, but also a strong argument as being the best of the best that the
Lightweight division has to offer. Of course, Richard Commey, Mikey Garcia, and/or
a contenders and prospects who have yet to emerge as players in the division
might have something to say to dispute Lomachenko’s claim as being the number
one Lightweight in the world. In this observer’s eyes however, until that time
comes Vasyl Lomachenko is the top fighter in the division.
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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