Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Many of the great champions of boxing have looked unbeatable but Vasyl Lomachenko looks not only unbeatable but impossible to beat.
Never in boxing history have we seen such a creative force of an artist in the boxing ring like Lomachenko who seems capable of absolutely anything, any move, any punch, at any split-second moment.
Once again, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and world champion freestylist showed he has no problem at all at the elite level of the professional ranks as he totally dominated the Cuban marvel Guillermo Rigondeaux, who quit after the sixth round with an alleged injured hand. But everyone who saw the fight, saw the truth. By the third round it was clear that Rigondeaux too, like everybody else, is not in the same league as this Ukrainian wizard who uses his two fists as magic wands.
Trying to fight Lomachenko, is like trying to extinguish a raging, out of control fire with one bucket of water. Or a two armed fighter trying to defeat a six-armed Mike Tyson.
There’s just too many moves, too many unpredictable punches and onslaughts to deal with. All the sudden Lomachenko throws three straight jabs or hooks, then when his genius urges take over, he unleashes this absurd five-punch volley of a combination no man has ever tried or even imagined to throw before.
Even a renowned mastermind like Rigondeaux, one of the greatest and most accomplished boxers in history, was simply overwhelmed and no match at all for Lomachenko’s symphony of violent artistry.
Yes, we must consider that Rigondeaux did courageously move up two weight classes for this fight and was the smaller combatant but even if he was the same exact size as Lomachenko, it was quite obvious the outcome would not have been any different. Rigondeaux has about a dozen different arrows in his arsenal, Lomachenko has about ten dozen, maybe more.
As for the future for Lomachenko, there aren’t many legit challengers on the horizon in his weight class of around 135-140. The most interesting fight for Lomachenko is probably against Floyd Mayweather at 147 but one could easily see the risk-averse American dodging that option with another inventory of excuses. Unusual as the match up appears, this fight would make a lot of sense and surely would fascinate the public.
The problem is Mayweather could very easily lose it and lose it badly, and Mayweather and his protector Al Haymon rarely will ever put themselves in a position where Bob Arum would have the last laugh.
But the reality is, Vasyl Lomachenko put on one of the all time greatest ring performances last night, on the same level, if not even higher than the very best we ever saw from Roy Jones, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Salvador Sanchez, Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
And it was a privilege last night to watch Lomachenko, who may not only be the pound-for-pound best boxer in the sport right now but the number one, most amazing athlete today in all sports, ahead of Roger Federer, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Sidney Crosby, and Tom Brady.
