Champion pauses Ukraine service for boxing return

2 years ago 87

Vasiliy Lomachenko is headed location to Ukraine, acceptable to resume subject work during his country's warfare with Russia.

Next clip helium returns, helium hopes it's for a accidental to go the undisputed lightweight champion.

Lomachenko bushed Jamaine Ortiz by unanimous determination connected Sunday (AEDT) to restart his quest to get different changeable astatine what helium calls his imagination of owning each 4 135-pound titles.

Lomachenko got stronger arsenic the combat went connected aft a dilatory commencement that possibly could person been owed to his ringing rust.

Lomachenko returned to his state aft it was invaded successful February and joined a territorial defence battalion, patrolling the streets to enforce a 10pm curfew.

Wearing trunks that looked similar subject camouflage with Ukraine's blue-and-yellow emblem on the broadside of the belt, he's backmost present and hoping for a changeable astatine Devin Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion who was sitting ringside and joined him successful the ringing aft the fight.

"You cognize what motivated me?" Lomachenko said. "Four belts!"

And helium wants Haney to beryllium next. For the title.

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"The combat to marque successful the lightweight part is Haney versus Lomachenko, and we volition bash everything we tin to marque the undisputed title showdown that each combat fans privation to see." promoter Bob Arum said.

"They are the world's premier lightweights, and it would beryllium a fantastic battle."

But if it happens, Lomachenko would astir apt person to beryllium amended than helium was against Ortiz.

"I deliberation it wasn't the champion performance, but I cognize if maine and Loma were to fight, we'd spot a amended mentation connected the night," Haney said.

"Congratulations, and hopefully we tin get it on."

So 1 enactment is ready, truthful what astir Team Loma?

"Look, I'm ready," Lomachenko said. "I'm acceptable for immoderate option."

Lomachenko (17-2) won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113 — a mates of the cards excessively wide for Teofimo Lopez, the erstwhile 135-pound champion who bushed Lomachenko successful October 2020.

"Welcome to the concern of boxing," helium said arsenic helium walked by property enactment astatine Madison Square Garden.

The country astir Lomachenko's close oculus was already swollen successful the 2nd circular arsenic helium tried to get wrong against his longer-armed opponent, but the two-time Olympic golden medalist yet recovered his footing.

He won the last six rounds connected 2 of the scorecards and finished with a 125-122 vantage successful punches landed.

Ortiz (16-1-1) mislaid for the archetypal time, appearing to deterioration down successful the aboriginal rounds nether Lomachenko's relentless pressure.

Lomachenko said helium was fixed breaks to bid during his service, truthful helium didn't expect to person immoderate ringing rust.

The bigger occupation was Ortiz's three-and-a-half-inch scope advantage.

He utilized it to commencement well, pushing Lomachenko backmost with bully shots to the body. Even by the clip Lomachenko landed immoderate bully consecutive lefts successful the fifth, the assurance coming from the American was clear.

"Let's go! You're bigger than this dude!" came a outcry from his corner.

But Lomachenko is utilized to that and helium yet started landing overmuch cleaner shots, knocking Ortiz disconnected equilibrium a fewer times successful a beardown finish.

Lomachenko has already owned titles successful 3 value classes, but the extremity is to person each 4 astatine lightweight. He was connected his mode determination earlier this year, with a bout being planned against George Kambosos Jr, who had taken the titles by upsetting Lopez.

But erstwhile the warfare broke out, Lomachenko returned location from Greece and told his handlers helium would beryllium unavailable for that fight. Haney got it alternatively and bushed Kambosos, past won again easy 2 weeks agone successful the rematch.

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