Rigo Not Doable for Vasyl Lomachenko / Facing Little Known Foe on Bradley/Rios Card Instead

09/18/201509/17/2015 Olly Campbell

After a mooted clash with Cuba’s 122 lb champion Guillermo Rigondeaux fell through after financial terms could not be agreed, WBO 126 lb titlist Vasyl Lomachenko will make the third defence of his belt against little known Mexican, Romulo Koasica, on the under card of Nov 7’s Tim Bradley/Brandon Rios clash.

It’s a blow to fans who had hoped to see the two stand-outs square off in what would sure to be a true, intriguing, 50/50 chess match type of a fight, such is the technical prowess of each man. Both won Olympic gold twice in glittering amateur careers and the soon to be 35 year old Rigondeaux is still yet to even box this year and isn’t getting any younger. Time is not on the side of this fight dragging in being made.

Jose Santa Cruz on Vasyl Lomachenko: “That F*****? Give Him to Us!!

08/31/201508/31/2015 Olly Campbell

Jose Santa Cruz, father and trainer of new WBA (sup) featherweight champion Leo, believes there is little point in his son signing on for a rematch with fellow Mexican-American star Abner Mares, especially given the strong showing on Saturday night, and believes that fights with the divisions Eastern European element, including Ukrainian amateur standout and WBO 126 lb champion Vasyl Lomachenko, are the best way forward for his son.

Speaking via fighthype.com, the elder Santa Cruz said of the potential Mares rematch.

“If there are others with more technique, better technique, (we’d like them) to make for a better fight.”

Vasyl Lomachenko Pushing for Guillermo Rigondeaux Fight

08/19/201508/18/2015 Olly Campbell

WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2ko) has upped the ante in trying to push for a fight with Cuban former amateur standout Guillermo Rigondeaux, telling the WBA (sup) 122 lb champion, ‘let’s fight for the right to be champion.

Lomachenko took to social media after provisional talks between the two camps about a mooted contest at 126 have stalled, ostensibly over a 134 lb rehydration clause in the contract that the Cuban wants to ensure Lomachenko doesn’t blow up too significantly on fight night.

Lomachenko’s Manager Calling Out Lee Selby

07/04/201507/03/2015 Olly Campbell

We last saw him looking fantastic on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao fight on May 2nd, and in the clearest sign yet of what we can expect next from WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, his manager Egis Klimas has spoken to ESPN to say that two likely options exist for the Ukrainian former amateur standout – former WBA 126 lb champ Simpiwe Vetyeka, or new IBF champion Lee Selby.

Selby was nothing short of sublime last time out 5 weeks ago in London, halting tough Russian champion and IBF fighter of the year Evgeny Gradovich. The doctor was forced to intervene after a nasty cut opened up above the former champion’s eye – yet it was always only a matter of time before the Welsh fighter turned up the heat even further than he already had, and some may say, the cut only saved Gradovich from further punishment.

Bob Arum: ‘No Catch-Weight For Walters v Lomachenko’

06/17/2015 Olly Campbell

As soon as Jamaica’s Nicholas Walter’s appeared at the weigh in ahead of his WBA 126 lb fight last Saturday against Miguel Marriaga, those in attendance and watching proceedings elsewhere could see immediately that he was drained.

After missing weight and dropping his title on the scales, the fans who had been looking forward to the mooted unification fight with WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, were left scratching their heads, wondering if it will indeed now happen if the “Axe Man” is no longer able to make the weight and intends on moving up.

Santa Cruz vs Cayetano; Lomachenko vs Rodriguez Quotes / Photo Gallery

05/01/201504/30/2015 Showtime Boxing

Undefeated WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, WBO Featherweight World Champion Vasyl Lomachenko, their opponents and non-televised fighters participated Thursday in the undercard final press conference before their respective fights taking place this Saturday, May 2, live on pay-per-view at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In pay-per-view fights before Floyd “Money” Mayweather meets Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in their epic welterweight championship unificiation showdown, the Mexican star Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17 KOs) will take on fellow Mexican countryman Jose Cayetano (17-3, 8 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight contest and Ukraine’s Lomachenko (3-1, 1 KO) will defend against Puerto Rico’s Gamalier Rodriguez (25-2-3, 17 KOs).

2014/2015 Reviews & Previews: Nicholas Walters, Guilliermo Rigondeaux, Leo Santa Cruz, Vasyl Lomachenko, Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson, & Jean Pascal

01/02/201501/01/2015 Vivek Wallace

(Note: In the fourth installment of a week long breakdown, boxing scribe Vivek “Vito” Wallace analyzes where today’s top fighters stand, and whether or not 2015 could be the year many of them fall. This week long analysis will cover over 30 top fighters from around the world)

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

For the best boxer of this era to rise from the Cuban ranks, 2014 was far from eventful. After a stunning 2013 that saw him defeat both Donaire and Agbeko, 2014 saw him destroy an unknown fighter in China, and forcibly scrape himself off the canvas twice against an unknown fighter in Japan. Definitely not the level of competition you’d like to see from a fighter none as “boring”.

Two Current Olympic Champions on the Professional Arena on Saturday

11/20/201411/20/2014 Ivan Ivanov

The under card of the main event featuring Manny Pacquiao vs. Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, contains two other names that are worth mentioning: WBO featherweight champ Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1) who is also the current lightweight Olympic champion from the Ukraine and Zou Shiming (5-0), still the light flyweight Olympic champion from China.

Vasyl Lomachenko will defend his title against a Thai boxer by the name of Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo who brings a record of 52 professional wins and 1 loss. The Ukranian is a double Olympic champion and triple World Amateur champion and now holds the WBO featherweight title. His pro record consists of two wins and one loss and it is quite unusual for a champion. Most boxers would still be doing 4 and 6 round fights and would not even dream of fighting for world titles on their second and third fight.

Pacquiao will have a hard time catching Mayweather, says Lomachenko

09/24/2014 Rob Smith

WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1, 1 KOs) thinks that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) will have a really tough time trying to catch up to WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr (47-0, 26 KOs) to land his power shots if Mayweather moves around the ring like he did against Marcos Maidana earlier this month in their rematch on September 13th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayweather used movement for 12 rounds to elude Maidana’s fierce attacks, and while Maidana did an excellent job of cutting off the ring, he wasn’t quick enough to catch Mayweather enough to be competitive.

Pacquiao-Algieri PPV Undercard Packs Plenty of Int’l Intrigue

09/18/201409/18/2014 Top Rank

MACAO (September 18, 2014) — World champions VASYL LOMACHENKO and JESSIE VARGAS and China’s most iconic athlete, undefeated Top-Five contender ZOU SHIMING, will be featured in exciting battles on the MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO vs. CHRIS ALGIERI World Welterweight Championship pay-per-view undercard. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.