Boxing: Lomachenko vs Lopez

Later tonight, after the UFC event, is a big boxing championship fight. I'll admit, despite 10 years training in amateur boxing, I don't know too much about the professional boxing world. However, I've seen some of the big fights over the years. Tonight is the first boxing fight I'll watch since starting this website just a few weeks ago. Hopefully through having this website, I'll learn more about the professional boxing world. The point of this website after all is to share on all combat sports, not just MMA. Here is a preview of the main event and my prediction for the fight.

Note- the undercard is starting live now, at 7:30 eastern, you can watch here in Canada on TSN.

The main event tonight is Vasyl Lomachenko vs Teofimo Lopez. This fight is at lightweight, which in boxing is 135 pounds. There are four championship belts on the line as Lomachenko has the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts, while Lopez has the IBF belt. Whoever gets the win, would become just the 20th boxer to become a quadruple champ, joining boxers such as Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Roy Jones Jr.

Vasyl Lomachenko is from Ukraine, and has a history of training in traditional Ukrainian dance and gymnastics, which likely led to his incredible and fast footwork skills. He has a very extensive amateur boxing background with an amateur record of 396-1. As for that one loss, he avenged it defeating his opponent in two subsequent fights. Lomachenko also has won gold medals in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, in two different weight classes. Lomachenko has a professional boxing record of 14-1. His lone defeat was in his second bout as a pro, while the opponent he fought had a record of 42-12-2 (1NC) at the time. 10 of Lomachenko's 14 wins have come by stoppage. UFC fans may remember the video footage shared of Lomachenko sparring with then UFC 135 pound champ, TJ Dillashaw. Lomachenko showed great head movement and fast footwork. I expect Lomachenko to have the speed advantages in the bout tonight.

His opponent, Teofimo Lopez, is just 23 years old, and has a professional boxing record of 15-0, with 12 wins coming by stoppage. Lopez competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but was eliminated in the tournament by the man who would eventually win the silver medal. In his last bout, Lopez won the IBF lightweight championship to set up this title unifier against Lomachenko.

Lomachenko is listed as a -370 favourite, while Lopez is set at +255. The odds for this fight to go the distance is -143, while it ending in a stoppage is shown at +105.

For my prediction, I think the extensive experience advantage, as well as speed advantages will be prevalent for Lomachenko. Given their combined 22 stoppage victories in 29 wins, I'm surprised the odds are showing more likely that it goes the distance. I think Lomachenko will be able to get a stoppage victory in the later rounds of this fight.

Also on this card was to be Clay Collard, who UFC fans may remember for his four fights in the UFC, including his debut against Max Holloway. Collard was to compete in the 2020 PFL season, but they cancelled all of their events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so he is expected to compete in their 2021 season. Since being released by the UFC, Collard has gone 4-1 in MMA and 9-2 in professional boxing. Unfortunately Clay Collard has tested positive for Covid-19 and his bout has been cancelled.

You can watch the undercard starting at 7:30 PM Eastern, and main card starting at 10 PM Eastern. Here in Canada the main card will be shown on TSN.

(Photo by @Toprank on Instagram).