BRIGHT ‘LIGHTS’
Lomachenko and Pedraza duel at Garden
Madison Square Garden prides itself on attracting the biggest stars, and two of boxing’s brightest will be in action on successive weekends.
On Saturday night, Vasiliy Lomachenko will be in action fighting Jose “Sniper” Pedraza in a unification bout in the lightweight division. And on Dec. 15, Saul “Canelo’’ Alvarez goes after the WBA super middleweight title in the big arena against Rocky Fielding.
Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs) will bring the WBA lightweight title into the ring, while Pedraza (25-1, 12 KOs), of Mexico, is the WBO champion.
The fight takes place at the Garden’s Hulu Theater and will be televised by ESPN following the presentation of the Heisman Trophy.
ESPN will also televise Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe of Ghana (20-0, 14 KOs) defending his WBO junior featherweight title against Emanuel Navarrete (25-1, 22 KOs) of Mexico, and Teofimo Lopez of Brooklyn (10-0, 8 KOs) matched against Mason Menard (34-3, 24 KOs) of Rayne, La.
Lomachenko, a two-time gold-medal winner, is determined to become the undisputed lightweight champion before moving up.
“That is my goal,” he said. “This is my motivation. That’s why I’m very concentrated on my training.”
This will be Lomachenko’s third consecutive appearance and the fourth overall at the Garden or its Theater in what is becoming home turf for the Ukrainian.
“When I fight in Madison Square Garden it’s very comfortable for me,” he said. “It’s not the first time or the second time. I’ve had big wins here. It’s a very historical place. It’s an honor for me to fight here.”
Lopez is also looking forward to fighting close to home after recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand.
“Even coming off an injury, I’m going to fight the way people have seen before — that exciting type of fighting with a lot of charisma and just enjoying boxing,” he said.
Lopez, battling for the NABF/USBA lightweight title, broke his hand July 14 in New Orleans against William Silva. Lopez said he broke his hand in the first round, but went on to stop Silva in the sixth. He’s confident the hand is ready.
“Top Rank wouldn’t have put me on this card unless they knew I was 100 percent,” he said. “I’m a prize fighter and they have to take care of their prize.”
Top Rank boss Bob Arum will be celebrating his 87th birthday on Saturday, but shows no signs of slowing down.
“We’re excited to be back at the Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden, with a card featuring great fighters from all over the world,” Arum said.
“Whether it’s the Ukraine, Ghana or Puerto Rico or Italy or Mexico, this is what boxing is about — the best young men coming from all over the world to fight for boxing supremacy.”