On The Watch “It’s All about Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez”

Lightweight Title Unification Challenge

Last night’s highly anticipated Lightweight Division Main Event battle between WBA/WBO/WBC “Franchise” Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-2, 10 Kos) and IBF Champion Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 Kos) inside “The Bubble” at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, was nothing short of entertaining.

Lopez showed up last night and showed up “BIG” inside that squared circle and corrupted the “Matrix” that is Lomachenko, real early with a flawless “game plan” from the jump. It was a chess match between two top tier combatants. However, the Master Chess player in Loma miscalculated his approach and fell behind in the first half of the bout and had to play catch up to make up for lost ground.

Loma’s slow start cost him dearly in this bout. His usual tactic of confusing his opponent wasn’t working on Lopez. Teofimo landed non-stop body punches that clearly limited Loma’s come forward approach. Loma obviously didn’t expect for Lopez to be this quick and accurate with heavy hands at the end of each punch.

Although Loma started to get things going his way in later rounds, Lopez’s steady jab with a sting attached to it, prevented Loma from ever clearly getting set up in his familiar riddim of fighting.

Teofimo’s youth, boxing IQ and sheer will to win carried him over to the finish line when Loma attempted to press him in trying to steal away the later rounds.

Last night’s bout wasn’t a passing of the torch but more of a “Takeover” by the young Lion Teofimo Lopez Jr. who seized the WBA/WBO/WBC “Franchise” Belts from Lomachenko’s grasp and retained his IBF Lightweight Title to now becoming the youngest four-belt champion in Boxing History. The Judges scored it 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. I personably saw it a little closer than that but can’t complain at the outcome. Your Boy Teofimo had to dig deep for this one and definitely earned it the hard way.

The Lightweight Division has a new “King” and he goes by the name of Teofimo Lopez Jr. The “Takeover” has begun.

Congratulations Champ!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About Vasyl Lomachenko vs Jose Pedraza”

Lightweight Title Unification Challenge

Last night, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, WBA Lightweight Champion Vasyl Lomachenko (12-1, 9 Kos), fresh off a seven-month layoff due to shoulder surgery, performed exceptionally well to outgun WBO Lightweight Champion Jose Pedraza (25-2, 12 Kos) and unify the Lightweight Division.

It was a very interesting bout that was definitely more competitive than expected. Pedraza showed heart and determination and undeniably fought like a willing opponent out there but simply was met with a much more cerebral opponent in Loma. This kid is the truth inside that squared circle. There are levels to this “Boxing Game” and he knows too well how and when to step it up.

Loma systematically broke down Pedraza as the rounds wore on and punished him with a fury of combination punches that knocked him down twice in the 11th round. That being said I still tip my “B” hat to Pedraza for enduring the 11th round beating and completing the full 12 rounds on his feet like a true warrior.

With this win Loma is now Unified WBA/WBO Lightweight Champion and once again confirming his seating on the Pound-for-Pound list.

Congratulations Champ on securing another great accomplishment.

Blaze