Teofimo Lopez humbles Vasiliy Lomachenko to unify lightweight titles

Teofimo Lopez was brash sufficient to problem Vasiliy Lomachenko, and ok to beat him.

Lopez dominated early and completed robust Saturday evening to win a unanimous 12-round choice over Lomachenko to unify the light-weight titles in a battle he demanded regardless that some thought he wasn’t skilled sufficient.

Lopez took benefit of a sluggish begin by Lomachenko to construct up an early lead, then completed the battle with an enormous 12th spherical that left Lomachenko bloodied and crushed on the scorecards. The 23-year-old from Brooklyn grew to become the unified light-weight champion and managed to do what few in boxing thought he may do — outbox maybe the perfect technician in boxing.

Lopez (16-0) added the three titles held by Lomachenko (15-2) to the belt he gained final 12 months to change into the undisputed 135-champion.

Lopez was favored 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112 on ringside scorecards in a bout held with out followers on the MGM Grand convention middle. The Associated Press had Lopez profitable 117-111.

Lopez proved sooner and stronger than the 32-year-old Lomachenko, who gained two Olympic gold medals as an novice and was thought to be one of many prime pound-for-pound fighters as a professional. Surprisingly sufficient, he was additionally the higher boxer and proved he may shut the present by bloodying Lomachenko’s eye within the 12th spherical.

“I had to dig deep, man,”’ Lopez stated. “I’m a fighter, I’ve got to dig in deep.”

Lomachenko, ordinarily a sluggish starter, was too sluggish this time as he gave away rounds early as he tried to determine the fashion of Lopez. By the time the battle received aggressive within the eighth spherical he was too far behind to come back again.

“He’s been in a 14-month layoff,”’ Lopez stated. “I knew it was going to take him a long time to catch up.”

Lomachenko, who misplaced solely as soon as in practically 400 novice fights and had just one loss as a professional, thought he did higher than the scorecards indicated.

“Definitely I am not agreeing with the scorecards,”’ he stated.

The battle was the largest because the pandemic started and would have been a pay-per-view occasion in regular occasions. But with no followers it was televised on ESPN, offering boxing with an even bigger showcase than it could have gotten in any other case.

Lomachenko was a 4-1 favourite however regarded rusty early as he tried to resolve the fashion of Lopez. He threw punches solely sparingly the primary half of the battle, touchdown simply 31 punches within the first seven rounds, earlier than lastly choosing up the tempo within the eighth spherical.

“I believe the primary half of the battle he received extra rounds than I did however within the second half of the battle I took over,’‘ Lomachenko said. “I was much better.’‘

Punch statistics showed Lopez landed 183 of 659 punches while Lomachenko was credited with 141 of 321. In the 12th round Lopez outlanded Lomachenko 50 to 19 and opened up a cut that sent blood flowing down his face and prompted referee Russell Mora to stop the fight with 10 seconds left to have the ring doctor look at it before resuming.

Lopez was told by his father in the corner before the 12th round that he was ahead and not to risk anything. But he came out strong and beat Lomachenko to the punch.

“I didn’t know if they’d him up on the scorecards or not,” Lopez stated.

Lopez did his trademark backflip within the ring after the unanimous choice was introduced.

Lopez grew to become the youngest fighter to change into a four-belt champion in solely his second title battle. He had sought the battle towards Lomachenko, angering the Ukrainian along with his brash ways.

“I like to battle and I can bang too.,’‘ Lopez said. “That’s what a real champion does, I am going on the market and discover a solution to win.’‘