Boxing 2018

[Kevin D]

Good to see some decent action coming up Kevin and forget that shite at the weekend,Rigondeux and the winner of the McDonell bout in Japan might also be involved in the Bantamweight class,also light welter and a 3rd class to be added to the series.

It wil be interesting to see what that 3rd division will be. Derek Chisora says it's at heavyweight and he's in it, for what it's worth.

[Captain Turdseye]

Fair play to the Sauerlands. This WBSS is genuinely making the sport better. Hopefully it keeps growing.

[Aventus]

 

 

Has he even been seen since defeat?

Was last seen diving into his cash, Scrooge McDuck style.

Hopefully he doesn't resurface.

[KMD7]

Looking forward to getting a copy of the new book thats out on Eamon Magee. Was lucky enough to have bumped into him in a pub not long after his fight with Hatton and had a pint with him. Found him to be a very nice fella. There's a great article on him in the guardian this week. No paywall either

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/may/08/eamonn-magee-boxer-bullet-ira-sectarianism-world-champion?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Lee909]

Was last seen diving into his cash, Scrooge McDuck style.

Hopefully he doesn't resurface.

Probably closing to this as its Haye

 

[Thoth]

The Joshua Klitchko documentary on BBC last night was a good watch, will be on catch up for those that missed it

[Kevin D]

Good to see some decent action coming up Kevin and forget that shite at the weekend,Rigondeux and the winner of the McDonell bout in Japan might also be involved in the Bantamweight class,also light welter and a 3rd class to be added to the series.

Inuoe is in, if he beats McDonnell, but Rigo says he's out. He can't make the weight safely, which is fair enough.

[DanDanShaw]

What’s Degales medical suspension?

 

Navada gave him one because of the cuts he received.

[DanDanShaw]

Made up with the WBSS announcement so far, Inoue is going into once he batters McDonnell.  Surely McDonnell regrets fighting Inoue now, if/when he loses he won't get in.  They're definitely doing 135 as well, Crola and Campbell are in it.

[Elite]

Made up with the WBSS announcement so far, Inoue is going into once he batters McDonnell. Surely McDonnell regrets fighting Inoue now, if/when he loses he won't get in. They're definitely doing 135 as well, Crola and Campbell are in it.

Bantamweight one is unreal. I think they need a World champion in the others though to give it some prestige.

 

Hearn has signed a massive deal in America so doubt sky will be picking it up.

[Byrnie]

That Bantamweight one has the potential to be better than the Cruiserweight one.

Kalle was off his tits at the presser again!!

[Byrnie]

£1bn deal that Hearn has signed along with some other company is it?

Wonder who he is going to try and sign, or already has lined up to sign? Have you heard anything Dan?

[Byrnie]

Really looking forward to Loma vs Linares.

Should be competitive for the first 3/4 rounds, then I expect Lomachenko to bust up Linares. Linares gets cut and marked up very easy so can see a late stoppage.

Linares has brilliant feet and movement, great technically but that's not enough to beat Lomachenko as he is better in both departments. Linares' style is not the style needed to cause Loma problems. He is not that big at the weight either.

Garcia at 135 would be a whole different prospect though. It should be a good watch though on Saturday.

Glad the pantomime from last week is over.

[Elite]

£1bn deal that Hearn has signed along with some other company is it?

 

Wonder who he is going to try and sign, or already has lined up to sign? Have you heard anything Dan?

Apparently he's said he wants to sign Wilder, Spence and the Charlos. The yanks best get ready for 'Sweet Caroline'

[loadsoftrophies]

Really looking forward to Loma vs Linares.

 

Should be competitive for the first 3/4 rounds, then I expect Lomachenko to bust up Linares. Linares gets cut and marked up very easy so can see a late stoppage.

 

Linares has brilliant feet and movement, great technically but that's not enough to beat Lomachenko as he is better in both departments. Linares' style is not the style needed to cause Loma problems. He is not that big at the weight either.

 

Garcia at 135 would be a whole different prospect though. It should be a good watch though on Saturday.

 

Glad the pantomime from last week is over.

 

Can't wait for this either Byrnie,  Loma is a little genius and i love watching Linares when he's on his game.  Linares can punch and he's got quick hands so if he can land it could get very interesting.  Have to say i'll be very surprised if this is one sided again because of the jump in weight again,  i'm thinking a 116-112 or something similar for Loma.  It's a guaranteed great fight for different reasons no matter the result,

[Elite]

Lomachenko was a lightweight as an amateur so don't think the weight increase will hinder him, he may look even better at a more comfortable weight.

[dickie mint]

Looking forward to this bout Lomachenko will break him down in in rounds 7-9 and that's coming from a big fan of Linares but Lomachenko is another level.

[Kevin D]

[Kevin D]

https://www.badlefthook.com/2018/5/9/17335794/lomachenko-vs-linares-fight-preview-and-matchup  

 

 

    Vasyl Lomachenko Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images

 

 

 

 

Record: 10-1 (8 KO) ... Streak: W9 ... Last 5: 5-0 ... Last 10: 9-1 ... Stance: Southpaw ... Height/Reach: 5’7” / 65½” ... Age: 30

“

 

Two golds at the World Amateur Championships at different weights. Two Olympic gold medals at different weights. Now world titles at two different weights as a professional. And Vasyl Lomachenko, at 30, is maybe just getting started.

 

Lomachenko has created such buzz in boxing from his amateur days into his pro debut in 2013 that it’s hard to compare him to anyone else who’s come into the sport recently. He has the pedigree of pedigrees from his unpaid days, going an absurd 396-1 as an amateur fighter. When he turned professional, he fought a competent fighter, Jose Ramirez, who was 25-3, right out of the gate. He knocked him out in four rounds.

 

 

There is the one professional blemish, which people who insist on continuing to doubt the hype harp on endlessly. Lomachenko lost to Orlando Salido in March 2014, when Lomachenko targeted the WBO featherweight title in his second pro fight. It was a split decision. Salido missed weight. Referee Laurence Cole did Lomachenko no favors. “Excuses,” those same doubters might think. Nah — it happened. And Lomachenko learned from it. Learned that the pro game was more forgiving of a clever scrapper, a sometimes dirty fighter like Salido. Learned that you have to roll with it.

 

Over the second half of that fight, Lomachenko made some adjustments and nearly came out winning the thing. I scored it for Salido, for the record, so I’m not making the argument that Loma should have won the fight. It went the way it did.

 

And Lomachenko became a much better fighter than he already was, because he got that experience. It was surely unpleasant for him to lose, but we certainly found out one thing for sure: a loss does not ruin this man’s confidence. He took it and bounced back.

 

In fact, he bounced back so well that he fought for that same title, now vacant, in fight number three as a professional. He fought Gary Russell Jr, who may currently be the top featherweight in the sport these four years later. He beat Gary Russell Jr.

 

Since then, it’s been all about who will actually get in the ring with Lomachenko. Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, Gamalier Rodriguez, and Romulo Koasicha tried their hand. All lost convincing, two were knocked out. In fact, Chonlatarn is the last man to go the distance with Lomachenko, and he was dropped and lost every round.

 

The run Loma’s been on since 2016 has been scary. He knocked out Rocky Martinez when he moved up to 130 to find better opponents willing to fight him. He made Nicholas Walters quit in seven. He made Jason Sosa quit in nine. He made Miguel Marriaga quit in seven. And his much-hyped showdown with fellow amateur legend and unbeaten pro Guillermo Rigondeaux was no different; Rigo quit in six and was seriously outgunned. (To be fair, Rigondeaux jumped two weight classes to make it happen, but his skills are such that everyone expected more than six rounds of one-way action.)

 

Who can beat Lomachenko? Hell, who can compete? Who can simply go the distance? Who won’t quit?

 

Loma has moved up again, searching for an opponent. He’s found one more than willing to get in the ring.

    Jorge Linares

 

 

Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images

 

 

Record: 44-3 (27 KO) ... Streak: W13 ... Last 5: 5-0 ... Last 10: 10-0 ... Stance: Orthodox ... Height/Reach: 5’8” / 69” ... Age: 32

 

“

Jorge Linares was described by the late, great Emmanuel Steward as a “beautiful boxer.” That has always stuck with me. In truth, there’s nothing particularly flashy about Linares, not much really jumps off the screen about him unless you know what to look for, and listen, I’ve never been pretentious about this, I’m no genius, and I’m certainly no Emmanuel Steward.

 

 

So it took the likes of Steward and others to really help me understand Linares and why he’s so good, why he’s able to flow effortlessly around the ring while winning, seemingly, mostly on having great fundamentals. Because to my rube eye, that’s how it came off — this guy is winning with the basics.

 

And maybe he is! The basics are often abandoned by fighters who have more stylish ambitions, who want to “look good.” Linares looks good without trying. Is he a Lomachenko? No, he’s not. Lomachenko is really, I think, in a class of his own as a stylish fighter who also has beyond great fundamentals, a rare case where someone can mix it up like that without losing anything from either side.

 

Linares is just a hell of a good fighter. Maybe he’s not great. But I think that, at 32, he’s finally going to get a chance to prove whether he’s great or simply borderline on Saturday against Lomachenko.

 

Linares has won 44 fights as a professional, bounced back well from three tough defeats, and won world titles at 126 and 135, plus the WBA “world” title at 130, which you can count, and pretty much everyone does when listening his accolades. (In fact, the belt he has now is the WBA “world” title at 135, though he did hold the WBC belt at 135, too.)

 

What Linares lacks in his career is a big, signature win. His biggest victories have come on the road in the UK, where he became a killer import with wins over Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla, twice, then beat former the UK’s Luke Campbell in California last September.

 

Lomachenko is a chance for Linares to not only confirm his excellence, but to reach a new level in his career, one that through all 44 of his wins he hasn’t really approached. He’s beaten good fighters, but never a great one.

 

 

 

Matchup Grade: A

. It doesn’t really get a lot better than this in boxing right now. We’ve got the top super featherweight moving up to face the No. 2 lightweight. (I’m not going to say I think Linares is the top lightweight, even if it would make for a better story. That’s Mikey Garcia, since Mikey’s staying at 135 for now.) If Lomachenko impresses the way he’s done against others in this matchup, it says a lot. If Linares can so much as make this competitive, it says plenty. I don’t really know what I expect. It seems dismissive to expect Loma to dominate again, but he really might. He’s that good. And it seems crazy to think Linares might beat him, but he really might — he’s got the talent and Lomachenko is giving up some size. Hopefully, it’s a fight worth the hype.

 

 

https://www.ringtv.com/535349-fight-picks-jorge-linares-vs-vasyl-lomachenko/

 

 

This Saturday, RING and WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares will put his belts on the line against arguably the most talented fighter in the world, Vasyl Lomachenko, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

 

 

For a long time Linares (43-3, 27 knockouts) has been considered one of the finest 135-pound fighters in the game, but true recognition has always eluded him. The crafty Venezuelan has relentlessly sought out an elite rival and now – finally – he has one. A three-weight world titleholder, the 32-year-old Linares is unbeaten in 13 fights contested over the past six years.

 

Lomachenko, 30, finished his amateur career as a double Olympic champion with an astonishing 396-1 record. The Ukrainian dynamo won the WBO 126-pound title in just his third fight and the WBO 130-pound title in his seventh. Put simply, Lomachenko (10-1, 8 KOs) has looked unstoppable as a pro.

 

Online gambling group bet365.com lists southpaw Lomachenko as a 1-14 (-800) favorite, while Linares is priced at 7-1 (+550).

 

Here’s how the experts see it:

 

THE RING MAGAZINE/ RINGTV.COM

 

MICHAEL WOODS: LOMACHENKO UD

Easy work for Loma. OK, maybe not ultra-easy. But that guy is in another zone. And it will take someone and something out of his comfort and zone to beat him. Linares isn’t that. He’s A grade in spots, at time…but not enough the time to bother Loma. Loma gets UD.

 

LEE GROVES: LOMACHENKO KO 10

Linares has bounced back nicely since his back-to-back losses several years ago, but he hasn’t faced anyone of Lomachenko’s ability in terms of technical skills. There may be a possibility of a fifth straight “Nomaschenko” ending because Linares’ composure was shaken during the final rounds of the DeMarco defeat, but, given the stakes, I don’t think Linares will give in here. Instead, I believe Lomachenko will administer a “Hi-Tech” dissection that will open up Linares’ scar tissue, which may score a TKO the “old-fashioned” way.

 

MARTIN MULCAHY: LOMACHENKO TKO 8

This fight is about vitality for me; Vasyl Lomachenko has it in spades while Jorge Linares is a proud champion pushing his physical odometer to the limits at age 32. Linares excels at nearly everything, but has had a snake bitten career, having unexpectedly been stopped three times by inferior opponents. Lomachenko is not inferior! A ‘by the numbers’ boxer like Linares does not cope well with Lomachenko’s quirky angles, and the intuitive movement that “The Matrix” delivers consistently will throw Linares off his rhythm. Lacking the power to bother Lomachenko, nor the speed to put him off, Linares is cut open or put into survival mode by the fourth round. I see Linares either rescued by his corner or stopped outright by the eighth round.

 

TOM GRAY: LOMACHENKO UD

There’s so much excitement about this matchup and that’s not surprising. Lomachenko is the most naturally gifted fighter in the world today and the larger Linares is one of the best pure technicians in the sport. However, I can see both men cancelling each other out. The offensive threat Lomachenko presents will force Linares to adopt frustration tactics. I see the older man using the perimeter of the ring and working at long range. Any time Lomachenko attempts to hustle for angles and work his way around the target, I think Linares will defuse the situation by stepping away or clinching. I can’t see him winning, but I think Linares has the skills and savvy to last 12 rounds. He loses 8-4 and some – not many – will argue that he should have been given the verdict. Vasyl Lomachenko UD 12 Jorge Linares.

 

NORM FRAUENHEIM: LOMACHENKO TKO 9

If you’re looking for a classic, Jorge Linares qualifies. From balance to hand speed, he has lots of that golden oldie, old-school kind of stuff. The well-practiced fundamentals are there. But the cutting edge is missing and that’s what defines Lomachenko. It’s who Lomachenko is. He is introducing angles and moves that are pushing the fundamental into the future at a dynamic rate. Linares hasn’t seen them, won’t be ready for them in a bout that will end in a late round when Lomachenko’s unprecedented blend of skill and style strikes Linares’ fragile chin with a combo he never sees.

 

TOM GERBASI: LOMACHENKO UD

Thirteen years and five days after Corrales-Castillo I, we should be in for something special again on May 12 when Jorge Linares faces Vasyl Lomachenko in NYC. No, I don’t expect to see the level of violence inflicted by Corrales and Castillo on each other, but in terms of talking to a non-fan and saying, “This is what boxing is about,” this is that fight. Can’t pick against Loma at this point, but Linares will have his moments before losing a clear-cut decision. Lomachenko WUD12

 

GARETH A. DAVIES: LOMACHENKO TKO 11

History-making from the Ukrainian. Perfect timing for Vasyl Lomachenko to face Jorge Linares. Have always thought that Mikey Garcia would be a step too far at 135, for the very small lightweight which VL will be, but not against Linares. Have a sense it will be a No-Mas-Chenko again, after a terrific first four rounds. For all Linares’ skills and speed – and there is sooooo much there for the purist too admire, there is a vulnerability to his physicality at the core, shown by Kevin Mitchell in London a couple of years back, and Lomachenko will exploit it. Linares, we should remind ourselves, is a climber himself from 126 pounds. Lomachenko must of course carry his power up to 135. But his timing and precision, balance, movement and angles are so exquisite, I think it will. Close after four rounds, tough for the Venezuelan after eight, Linares will start to be broken in the last third and stopped in 10/11. Eleventh round TKO victory for Vasyl Lomachenko.

 

ANSON WAINWRIGHT: LOMACHENKO TKO 6

Excellent fight on paper. The best talent in the sport against the technically proficient more experienced champion. I see it playing out rather one-sided. This fight is about timing and Lomachenko is at his absolute peak, whereas Linares has lost a bit off his fast ball. Boxing is about styles but it’s difficult for me to see Linares struggle with Luke Campbell and look mediocre against Mercito Gesta and find a reason he can beat Lomachenko. I expect Lomachenko to break down Linares in between rounds 6-8. I think Linares pride will prevent him from quitting and he’ll go out on his shield with either cuts or a volley of punches causing the stoppage.

 

BOXING INSIDERS

 

STEVE FARHOOD (TV ANALYST): LOMACHENKO UD

I have to go with Lomachenko and that despite Linares being one of my favorite active fighters. Lomachenko has too much quickness, too much energy, and too much imagination. Linares is an amazing offensive fighter, but if his size advantage doesn’t prove to be the difference, I see Loma winning comfortably on points or on cuts.

 

TONY TOLJ (MANAGER): LOMACHENKO TKO

Lomachenko vs. Linares will be epic, I’m a big fan with both. My good friend Cecilio Flores (strength and conditioner) will no doubt have Loma in excellent condition. I see the fight very competitive for the first 6 rounds, and there will be back and forth, then Loma will start pulling away. Then I see Linares being unable to solve the Matrix for the next couple rounds. Loma from then will systematically breakdown El Ninò Del Oro and the fight will be stopped between rounds 8 to 10. Winner and NEW WBA world lightweight champion of the world Vasyl “No Mas” Chenko.

 

DUKE MCKENZIE (FORMER THREE-WEIGHT WORLD TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): LINARES UD

For some time now, boxing has been praying for a fight of this quality. No need for boring trash talk or rubbish press conferences where someone says or acts like a fool. No, this really is the Best vs. the Best. Surely your Friday night fans will say Lomachenko is the second coming since Jesus Christ, for all his brilliance, but I see a difference in class in Linares. Sounds crazy, but Linares is special; as a 3-weight world champion he commands respect and is in the form of his life. I think if the judges don’t get it horribly wrong and score for a controversial decision to Lomachenko, then Linares wins via a points decision or, dare I say, a late stoppage.

 

TONY “THE TIGER” LOPEZ (FORMER TWO-WEIGHT WORLD TITLEHOLDER): LOMACHENKO KO

 

Lomachenko by KO in the middle rounds. It’s all about what Lomachenko wants to do. Power, side to side movement, defense the biggest part is his head on fighting style. Linares is tough but Lomachenko has too much for him.

 

JOLENE MIZZONE (MATCHMAKER): LOMACHENKO RTD 7

Lomachenko by the seventh round (RTD) I think that Linares isn’t going to want to go past the 7th round with Loma. Loma is like the matrix and makes his opponents not want to fight anymore.

 

KATHY DUVA (PROMOTER): LOMACHENKO RTD 5

I can’t think of a fighter that I would pick to beat Lomachenko. He is scary smart, unbelievably athletic and coordinated and, now that he has close to a dozen pro bouts under his belt, a puzzle that I just don’t think anyone can solve. I’ll pick the fifth round.

 

CAMERON DUNKIN (MANAGER): LOMACHENKO TKO

I think it’s a one-sided fight, I think Lomachenko wins every round and stops him somewhere in the mid-rounds, six through eight or nine.

 

PAULIE MALIGNAGGI (FORMER TWO-WEIGHT WORLD TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): LOMACHENKO TKO

I think Lomachenko is probably a bit fresher, but Linares is always a great boxer. It’s just I don’t know what he has left. For a great boxer Linares does get hit a lot and I think that only gets worse as you get older. I think Lomachenko by late stoppage.

 

SERGIO MORA (FORMER WORLD TITLEHOLDER/TV ANALYST): LOMACHENKO UD

I think Lomachenko is at the top of his game and his confidence is through the roof. Linares might have size on him, but it won’t be enough. I like Loma by unanimous decision.

 

STEPHEN EDWARDS (TRAINER): LOMACHENKO

This fight will prove the difference between a special fighter and a great talent. Linares is an uber talent and has a distinct size advantage in this fight. But Lomachenko is stronger than he looks and his mind processes on a different level. At the midway point Lomachenko will take over and start to wear him down. Late stoppage or unanimous decision.

 

ERIC BOTTJER (MATCHMAKER): LOMACHENKO KO 9

Lomachenko-Linares. Linares is a fine fighter, but I give him little chance. Lomachenko is a man from the future, someone who is doing things one would expect from a 22nd century boxer. He’s in his prime, he’s taking Linares seriously, he sees bigger fights in the future. He won’s slip up. Lomachenko in 9.

 

KENNY ADAMS (TRAINER): LOMACHENKO UD

I trained Linares before, he is an outstanding fighter, he’s very skilled, can box and punch, can do everything. I think the youth right now has got to be on the side of Lomachenko. He’s a very special fighter too, he does all great moves, some moves like Sugar Ray Robinson, who was the greatest period. I think it’ll be a good fight. The problem is Linares has a tendency to get cut early; hopefully he gets past the first rounds [without getting cut]. I’d say Lomachenko more than likely by decision.

 

FINAL TALLY

 

19-1 in favor of Lomachenko.

[Kevin D]

Looks like an earlier start than usual tonight, with Loma to be in the ring from about 1:30.

[Curly]

Looks like an earlier start than usual tonight, with Loma to be in the ring from about 1:30.

That's good - might actually be able to stay up for it!

[Brownie]

Looks like an earlier start than usual tonight, with Loma to be in the ring from about 1:30.

Really?! What channel is it on?

[Captain Turdseye]

If anyone wants to nod off early tonight, Hughie Fury vs Sam Sexton is starting shortly on C5.

[Elite]

If anyone wants to nod off early tonight, Hughie Fury vs Sam Sexton is starting shortly on C5.

Should be a cracker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By cracker I mean tasteless and leaves you needing a drink.

[Jay86]

Done a Fury/Loma points double, Lomachenko could potentially add another name to his NoMaschenko list as he just beats the shit out of people until they have no option or no choice but to just give in.