Lomachenko Stakes His Claim for Fighter of the Year with Walters Stoppage

He came, He saw, He annihilated. Two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist and two-division world champion VASYL LOMACHENKO (7-1, 5 KOs), successfully defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight title by stopping undefeated former World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion NICHOLAS “Axe Man” WALTERS (26-1-1, 21 KOs), of Montego Bay, Jamaica, on Saturday at The Chelsea inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Walters told referee Tony Weeks he did not want to continue after the seventh round. The fight was televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®.

Lomachenko, who won the WBO featherweight title and the WBO junior lightweight title in his third and seventh bout, respectively, both records for fewest fights for winning a first world championship and world titles in two different divisions, has become an internet sensation with the You Tube video “Lomachenko is in The Matrix” which has generated more than 630,000 views. It is a homage to his flawless defense, ducking countless punches while attacking his opponent from all angles with rapid combinations. Say “hello,” to boxing’s version of Neo!

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, the Lomachenko vs. Walters world championship fight will be replayed by HBO on November 28 at 12:50 a.m. ET/PT. HBO2 will air the replay on November 29 at 1:00 a.m. ET/PT. HBO Signature will replay the fight on November 27 at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT.

“I had my plan. I knew it would take four rounds and then I went to work on him,” said Lomachenko. “Walters said he would do this and that he would do that throughout training camp, and in the end, he just quit. I would like to fight [WBC super featherweight champion] Francisco Vargas next. My goal is to be the No. 1 pound for pound fighter.”

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