VASILIY LOMACHENKO ‘LOMA’
RECORD: 14-2 (10) AGE: 32 FROM: Ukraine
WHY HE IS ON THE LIST:
A fistic genius and one of the finest amateur boxers of all time, Lomachenko had close to 400 contests in the unpaid ranks, losing just once. After garnering gold medals at the Olympic Games (twice), World Championships (twice) and European Championships, the sublime southpaw claimed WBO featherweight honours in only his third professional outing. The WBO super-featherweight title followed in fight number seven, with the WBA lightweight belt arriving after 12 bouts. The WBC and WBO straps were added to his collection at 135lbs, before Teofimo Lopez came and took his titles.
BEST PUNCH:
Lomachenko pumps out rapid-fire jabs from an assortment of angles. Constantly feinting and making use of his excellent footwork, opponents struggle to see where the next stiff, tormenting right hand is going to come from.
STANDOUT VICTORY:
Gary Russell Jnr and Guillermo Rigondeaux are two of Lomachenko’s most high-profile victims. Both boxers were unbeaten at the time, and neither has lost since. However, his 10th-round stoppage of Jorge Linares in May 2018 particularly stands out, as it took place up at lightweight, whereas the Russell and Rigondeaux fights were contested at featherweight and super-feather respectively – divisions which are more suited to Lomachenko’s natural size.
X FACTOR:
Lomachenko’s technical wizardry is his greatest strength. His movement and overall ring IQ is exceptional.
WHO HE SHOULD FIGHT NEXT:
Avenging his surprise defeat to Lopez is the primary task on Lomachenko’s to-do list. There were signs in the second half of the bout that he was beginning to get to grips with Lopez somewhat, which is why a rematch would be fascinating.