As it stands now, I would argue that Lomachenko is a first ballot IBHOFer who falls disappointingly short of ATG status. Could he have been an all-time great at 130lbs? I believe the answer is yes. Fast and maddeningly elusive, with good punching power and savant like footwork/technical prowess, the junior lightweight version of the Ukrainian standout is an absolute handful for anyone at that weight over the last 30-40 years (probably more). My hope is that he abandons the lightweight division following his upcoming match with Nak--since it is doubtful he will ever secure a rematch with Teo Lopez-- and returns to 130lbs, where even now in the twilight of his career he would (in my opinion) defeat any of the young champions presently campaigning there. (Should he run a gauntlet of Stevenson, Valdez et al, then I'll revisit the ATG discussion).
For a while. It looked like he might be. But his 6 year run from 2014 to 2020 isn't enough to classify him an ATG imo. A very good fighter who would trouble most at his best weight is about as good as I can say.
Completely agree. Loma is one of the biggest cases of career mishandle in the history of the sport. I don't know who his manager is, but he does a really bad job.
Personally, I think it's him. Supposedly, he said he would have retired instead of postponing the Lopez fight. That what people wanted him to do. Makes zero sense. He honestly believed he could beay Lopez with 1 arm. LOL
A win over Russell Jr vs losses to Salido and Lopez. There is a ton of fluff on Loma's resume. He isn't close to being an ATG at this juncture.
I don’t think he is, at pro level. I think he has the skills for it, I still have him in my top 5 p4p. Like Mikey, another guy I have in my top 5, he is fighting above his weight. If they went down a weight, they would be absolute monsters. But both have the wrong attitude about where they fit in. After this next fight, loma needs to make a big fight. That means something. You ain’t too big to do some chasing. Same goes for Mikey. If it ain’t Crawford or Taylor, he’s just spinning his wheels. His businessman approach is starting to get to me. Show some passion for the game, Mikey.
Well, looks that Loma loves medals and belts, different cups. This is only 1 explanation why he stayed in amateur ranks too long: looks that to get 2nd Olympic Gold medal. The same most likely with World Championship Gold medals: he get 1, nope, he needs to get 2. Pro ranks? He get belt at 126 lbs, then moved up to 130 lbs where he get belt, then moved up to 135 lbs where he get bunch with belts. His opponents at pro ranks too maybe are sign of some target here, I think. Rigo: I don't know why he needed Rigo. 1 version is because he had good pro record. 2 nd version is because he like Loma was 2X Olympic Gold medalist and 2X World Gold medalist ? Campbell: yeah, it was pro fight and again: Campbell does have 1 Olympic Gold medal.
I personally think his father was trying to build the perfect fighter. He worked on Loma's craft from a young age and Lomachenko was able to become an amazing athlete. He probably went for the 2nd medal because he saw it, alongside his amateur ranks, as a way to develop Lomachenko skills with minimum risk and get a shortcut for a world championship belt at the pro's. He was absolutely right. Lomachenko got a hell of a signing bonus and fought for the world championship at his 2nd pro fight. The problem, of course, is they never imagined pro boxing could be even more corrupt than amateur boxing + Top Rank does a horrible job in protect their fighters of crazy scorecards. You never see Canelo or Mayweather on the losing side of a controversial scorecard, but Top Rank fighters are always there, even f- Pacquiao was in at least 2 controversial decisions (Tim Bradley and Jeff Horn).
Not quite an ATG, he started late in life and hasn't had the right competition/wins to make him an ATG.
What do you mean mismatch? Nakatani can very well KO Lomachenko. Not as skilled, obviously, but hits hard, has size, and a crazy chin.
Try again. I wrote "upcoming match" not "mismatch." Nevertheless, if Lomachenko is healthy and still a facsimile of his former self, he outboxes and styles on Nakatani, a tough-as-nails but somewhat limited operator.