It's fight week and the most anticipated matchup of the year is nearly upon us. Here's everything you need to know about Vasyl Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez
Though the pandemic put boxing on hold for the better part of the year, we've been lucky enough to see some great fights since lockdown came to an end. This Saturday, however, brings quite possibly THE biggest matchup to be made outside of Joshua vs Fury.
Coming to us from the MGM Grand, courtesy of Top Rank, amateur phenomenon, pound for pound star, and three-weight world champion, Vasyl Lomachenko, bids to become undisputed at lightweight - putting his WBA (Super), WBO, The Ring and lineal lightweight titles on the line against the unbeaten IBF Champion, Teófimo López.
Undisputed? What about the WBC?
You may have noticed that we didn't mention the WBC belt above - this is because there isn't technically a WBC belt on the line. The 'regular' WBC world title is held by Devin Haney, while Lomachenko is the WBC's 'Franchise' champion, and this is where the 'undisputed' debate comes in. Should Lomachnko win, being WBC franchise champ, he has a pretty solid claim to the title of undisputed, for López, it's not as straightforward.
Should López emerge the victor, he doesn't inherit the title of WBC franchise champion - that stays with Lomachenko. For López to get hold of a WBC title, he'll need to claim the 'regular' championship belt from Haney, or anyone who takes it from Haney.
So can a victorious López claim to be undisputed? The answer to that question depends entirely on the opinion of the individual asking it. You could argue that beating the franchise champion carries more weight than getting hold of the 'regular' belt, then again, you might say that 'undisputed' means holding ALL the belts - no exceptions. There will also be those who refuse to recognise the franchise championship as meaning anything at all, believing that neither man is undisputed without Devin Haney's 'regular' WBC title.
I'll leave that one up to you.
Who is the favourite?
As with any high profile fight, the war of words has been raging amongst fans on social media ever since it got announced. While López has his share of support, the overwhelming consensus appears to be that Lomachenko - even with all his miles on the clock - might still be too much for the young Lion.
Bookies too make Lomacheko the heavy favourite, but the young and hungry underdog, Teófimo López, has been supremely confident throughout the build-up. If he feels at all overwhelmed by the challenge ahead, he certainly isn't letting it show.
Fighter stats
Here's how each man looks on paper -
Stats
| Loma
| López |
Age
| 32
| 23
|
| Height | 5' 7"
| 5' 8″
|
Reach
| 65 ½"
| 68 ½"
|
Fights
| 15
| 15
|
Wins
| 14
| 15
|
Wins by KO
| 10
| 12
|
Losses
| 1
| 0
|
Draws
| 0
| 0
|
Keys to victory
Vasyl Lomachenko
Lomachecnko needs to do what he has always done - stay switched on from the opening bell and use his superior boxing ability to break his opponent down - taking away any will to fight.
Loma isn't a one-punch knockout artist, and he can't afford to stand and trade with a puncher like López - if he does, he will likely come out the worse off.
Teófimo López
While López can certainly box, it's unlikely he'll outbox Lomachenko. He needs to find a way to use his size and strength to offset Loma and take him out of his rhythm. We saw Orlando Salido do precisely this to win a decision over Lomanchenko in 2014, and while Loma was brand new to the pro game then, the blueprint remains the same - get inside, get physical, and don't let him settle.
If López can do the above, he'll be able to bring his power into play. We know López can end fights with a single punch, and while Lomachenko's chin remains untested, if López lands clean, it could be the great equaliser.
Time, date, and how to watch
The fight takes place at the MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, on Saturday 17th of October.
For US fans, the fight is available on ESPN with no additional charge. Ring walks are likely to take place at around 11:00 pm ET.
For those of us watching from the UK, we'll have to purchase the fight via FITE TV for a one-off fee of £9.99. The ring walks will likely take place at around 4 am on Sunday morning.
Who is fighting on the Loma vs López undercard?
Alex Saucedo vs Arnold Barboza Jr
10 rounds for the vacant WBO International light welterweight title
Lanell Bellows vs Edgar Berlanga
8 rounds at super-middleweight
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