Loma will dazzle in light show
VASYL LOMACHENKO at lightweight. What a fascinating prospect. Will he be as effective at 135 pounds? Will his power mean as much going up from super featherweight for the first time? I have expressed many times my admiration for his opponent in May, Jorge Linares, who demonstrated his class in the British clean sweep of Kevin Mitchell, Anthony Crolla – twice – and Luke Campbell. But Lomachenko (right) is different class, a freak even, as any with only one defeat in 397 amateur bouts could be described. His physical strength is incredible. This fella does chins one-handed. Don’t try that at home. And his technical range combined with great power makes him almost the perfect fighting machine. The double Olympic champion won the second of his titles at 60kgs in London, that’s only 3lbs below the lightweight limit.
He probably walks around about 140 and is never out of shape so he will be comfortable at the higher weight. The difficulty is in knocking over bigger men who enter the ring at close to 150lbs. Linares is a beautiful boxer, great movement with good speed and power.
His main attribute is his timing and punch placement, but he is hittable, and Lomachenko will find him. The fight goes ahead on May 12 the week after Gennady Golovkin v Saul Alvarez II, which had been getting in the way, but Loma/Linares is a mega fight, too. It is Lomachenko’s biggest test because Linares is a bigger unit and gifted. But that won’t be enough to stop one of the great fighters of the age. Victory for Lomachenko obviously brings into view Mikey Garcia, who stepped up to 140lbs for only the second time a fortnight ago to beat Sergey Lipinets for the IBF super lightweight crown. Garcia has targeted the big names at welterweight for his next engagement, but the prospect of meeting Lomachenko could prompt a tasty U-turn.