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Usyk fights Chisora in a high stakes heavyweight battle on October 31st, live on Sky Sports Box Office
Last Updated: 10/18/20 7:27 am
Teófimo López surprised Vasiliy Lomachenko
Vasiliy Lomachenko fell to a unanimous decision loss to Teofimo Lopez in their lightweight world title unification fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Undefeated IBF champion Lopez ripped the WBA, WBO and WBC ‘franchise’ belts from Lomachenko in a significant surprise from the great pound for pound who was rated the best fighter in the world.
But Lomachenko had a tough time against Lopez, who was naturally bigger and more powerful, and nine years younger, and whose pre-fight trash talk was impressively backed up.
Lomachenko was put down by the mighty Lopez
It was only Lopez’s 16th professional fight, but he is now the leading 135-pound fighter in the world after dethroning the brilliantly talented Lomachenko with a performance of authority and poise.
He did not allow Lomachenko the freedom to show his genius.
Halfway there, the caution with which Lomachenko had approached the fight was remarkable.
Unwilling to trade punches, he stayed on his back foot with Lopez throwing many more shots and trying to force action.
Lopez’s right-hand man, who previously ripped the IBF belt from Richard Commey in just two rounds, repeatedly began to find his target in the seventh round.
Lopez celebrates with a back flip
At the time, it was clear that Lomachenko was struggling to compete with a younger and larger opponent.
Lomachenko had his first significant success in the eighth round with a left counterattack and emerged from his wary shell toward the end of the fight, at which point his face showed the damage done by Lopez.
The final rounds were the Ukrainian’s best – his footwork remained sharp and he was allowed to land more punches as Lopez grew weary and lackluster.
The final 10 seconds were a fight that many had expected long before and Lopez emerged with a small cut.
But all the judges gave the go-ahead to Lopez (116-112, 119-109, 117-111) whose pre-fight cheek was justified when he went home as the world’s No. 1 lightweight.
A victory for his father
López is now the best lightweight in the world
Lomachenko and López were led into this unification struggle by their parents, two extremely different men who also act as coaches to their sons.
López Sr. began the rivalry with Lomachenko two years ago in a hotel lobby when he yelled at the then champion that his son would eventually take over.
Lopez Sr. was a con artist, but also the only family member to attend his son’s wedding when others disapproved of him.
“We have had our trials, but now we work well together,” said Lopez Jr. Sky sports. “We have learned.
“I can’t see myself being where I am now without him.
“My father never gave up on me, and I didn’t give up either.”
0:58 Oleksandr Usyk and Derek Chisora will meet on October 31, and it won’t be a night for the faint hearted!
Sky Sports schedule
Usyk vs Chisora - October 31, live at the Sky Sports box office
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Derek Chisora
Lee Selby vs. George Kambosos Jr
Dave Allen vs. Christian Hammer
Tommy McCarthy vs. Bilal Laggoune
Amy Timlin vs. Carly Skelly
Taylor vs Gutierrez – November 14, live on Sky Sports
Katie Taylor vs. Miriam Gutiérrez
Terri Harper vs. Katharina Thanderz
Rachel Ball vs. Ebanie Bridges
Jamie Cox vs. Jack Cullen
John Docherty vs. Jack Arnfield
Povetkin vs Whyte 2 – November 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office
Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte
Conor Benn vs. Sebastian Formella
Chris Billam-Smith vs. Deion Jumah
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