DOWNLOAD COMPLETE
perspective on the almighty dollar. “Everyone was throwing money at him, but he signed with us because he thought we could develop a relationship. He thought we could lead him to success in the pro ranks. That’s exactly what happened. “It was hard to believe in this day and age, when fighters are influenced solely by the amount of money they make.” Arum did his part. Lomachenko stopped fringe contender Jose Luis Ramirez in four rounds in his debut the following October. Then Arum, by
quickly to focus on the next challenge, a meeting in June of that year with the talented and more experienced Gary Russell Jr. for the title Salido lost by coming in overweight. This time, Lomachenko gave a breathtaking boxing exhibition en route to a majority decision victory that most observers believed should’ve been unanimous, equaling Muangsurin’s record in the process. Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman called Lomachenko’s performance “a masterpiece.” And many would agree.
only 12 fights. “He did an amazing thing,” Goodman said. “How many guys can say they did what he did? [Floyd] Mayweather didn’t win titles so early in his career. Neither did Oscar [De La Hoya].” Said Klimas: “He became No. 1 pound-for-pound in no time. Other guys, it took them 10, 12, 15 years. Loma did it [in] like three, five years.” Lomachenko would fight only nine more times after meeting Linares, going 7-2 in those bouts. The first loss came against Teofimo Lopez in 2020, a fight in which Lomachenko entered with a right-shoulder injury and further damaged it in the bout. He had surgery the following Monday. And then undisputed champion and massive lightweight Devin Haney outpointed him in a close but unanimous – arguably controversial – decision in 2023. Lomachenko would bounce back a year later to stop George Kambosos in May of last year, winning the IBF 135-pound title. This past June, the 37-year-old announced his retirement. He finished with a record of 18-3, with 12 knockouts, which might not look particularly impressive at first glance. And he didn’t face a few of the biggest names at or near his weight, including Gervonta Davis. Skeptics might point out the above and question Lomachenko’s credentials. Well, Campbell echoed the perspective of others who followed “Hi-Tech’s” career. Consider these numbers: • He finished with a reported record of 396-1 in the unpaid ranks against some of the best amateurs on the planet. His only loss came against Albert Selimov back in 2007, a setback he avenged twice. • 17 of Lomachenko’s 21 fights were for major world titles. He was 14-3, with 10 knockouts, in those bouts. • Seven of his title bouts came at 135 pounds, meaning more than a third of his biggest fights came against naturally bigger men. “He could’ve easily gone back down to 126,”
weight of Lomachenko’s two Olympic gold medals and other amateur accomplishments, was able to procure a shot at rough veteran Orlando Salido’s WBO 126-pound title on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Brian Vera card in March 2014. Lomachenko now had his chance to become a world titleholder in just his second pro fight, which would’ve broken the record of three fights by Saensak Muangsurin of Thailand. However, he would
“[Lomachenko] changed the sport completely, putting huge expectations on everyone else to do the same as he did.” - Luke Campbell
L uke Campbell had just defeated his opponent in a 2004 European junior tournament in Russia when he sat down to watch, for the first time, a 16-year-old Ukrainian who was creating a buzz in the amateur boxing world. Campbell, who would cross paths with the fighter as a professional 15 years later, understood immediately that he was seeing something extraordinary. “I was mesmerized by watching him,” Campbell told The Ring Magazine recently. “The way he moved, his IQ. I knew immediately that he was another breed.” That’s how most observers will remember Vasiliy Lomachenko – another breed – a boxing wizard who would become the most accomplished amateur boxer ever and climb to the top of pound-for-pound lists as a professional under the guidance of his father/trainer Anatoly Lomachenko, dazzling everyone along the way.
Loma pierces the guard of 2012 Olympic champ Luke Campbell.
His pro career was brief in terms of number of fights – 21 – but he had more than enough minutes in the ring to establish himself as one of the best of his generation. B ob Arum, Lomachenko’s career-long promoter, learned that Lomachenko was different in more ways than one when he first met the prospective client and his team – including manager Egis Klimas – at The Beverly Hills Hotel in California. One, Lomachenko declared that he wanted to fight for a major world title in his pro debut so he could become champion in the fewest fights in history. Arum explained that it wasn’t possible because of rules in place, which require at least one outing. OK then, Lomachenko said, the second fight. Arum was impressed. “He exuded confidence,” Arum said. “So did his father. They showed very little ego, though. I came to realize what
leave the ring disappointed. Salido, who had 55 pro fights under his belt and an abundance of guile, came in 2¼ pounds overweight (intentionally, some believe) and used roughhouse (dirty?) tactics to pull out a split decision victory. The setback still stings those close to Lomachenko because, they believe, the playing field wasn’t level. Salido ballooned to a reported 147 pounds by fight time, 11 more than Lomachenko. And those watching couldn’t count the number of times Salido punched Lomachenko below the belt while referee Laurence Cole watched obliviously. Klimas believes it was 41. In spite of all that, Klimas thought his man deserved the nod. “Listen, Loma won the fight,” he said. “We know what Salido did; he came in as dirty as he could. I one hundred percent believe Loma won that fight. Unfortunately, we had a bad referee, 41 low blows and no warnings.” Lomachenko put the loss behind him
One rival believes Lomachenko set the sport on a new course with his fast-track career path. “He changed the whole game by fighting for a world title in two, three fights,” said Campbell, who would lose a one-sided decision in a lightweight championship bout against Lomachenko in 2019. “He changed the sport completely, putting huge expectations on everyone else to do the same as he did.” And Lomachenko was just getting started. He would become the fastest ever to win a title in a second weight class, knocking out then- WBO 130-pound beltholder Rocky Martinez in five rounds in his seventh fight. Then, in 2018, he stopped Jorge Linares in 10 rounds to win the Ring and WBA 135-pound titles in his 12th fight, making him the quickest to win a major belt in a third division and catapulting him to the top of most pound-of-pound lists. He was the best in the world after
wonderful people they are.” Two, Arum asked the same question he’d asked hundreds of young, promising fighters over the years: “What sort of signing bonus are you expecting?” Lomachenko’s response? “I don’t want a signing bonus. I want you to promote me against the best fighters out there.” Arum was stunned. The Hall of Fame promoter, who signed Lomachenko in July 2013, learned in only a few minutes that his new young star wasn’t driven by money like so many top athletes. He was motivated by the opportunity to chase greatness, his purses being a secondary concern. Arum was happy to oblige. “Did it surprise me? It shocked me,” Arum told The Ring when he was asked about his reaction to Lomachenko’s
62 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 63
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker