Lopez stuns Lomachenko in unification fight

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Unbeaten Teofimo Lopez upset Vasiliy Lomachenko by a unanimous decision yesterday to become the undisputed world lightweight champion in Las Vegas.

Lopez defended his 135-pound IBF lightweight title and seized the WBC, WBO and WBA belts from Ukraine’s Lomachenko who suffered his first loss in six years.

“I am ready to take over the world,’’ said Lopez, who won by scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112.

Lopez, 16-0 with 12 knockouts, became the lightweight king in a fight that appeared to be closer than the lopsided judges’ scorecards indicated at the MGM

Grand Hotel and Casino.

In the biggest fight of his career, Lopez, of the US, dominated the first half before Lomachenko came storming back in the later rounds to set the stage for a thrilling final round.

At 23, Lopez is the youngest fighter to become a four belt undisputed champion. He did it in an empty MGM arena where spectators were banned because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lopez received a nasty cut over the right eye from an accidental head butt in the final round but was able to continue.

“I think I won the fight,” said Lomachenko. “But I am not going to argue it now.”

UNDISPUTED CHAMP – Unbeaten Teofimo Lopez, right, connects with a right uppercut against Ukraine’s Vasiliy Lomachenko in their world lightweight unification title fight in Las Vegas yesterday. Lopez won via unanimous decision. (Top Rank photo)