Lomachenko's Legacy

Should definitely have the recognition of winning the belts from Haney even at a massive weight disadvantage, crazy talented operator and an absolute pleasure to watch

 

Kovalev, Beterbiev and Usyk are better p4p.

 

...WHO???

 

He’s an ATG. Fastest to three division titles. Fought for championship in second fight and got screwed by a corrupt referee and judges. Been fighting at lightweight in all cases against fighters bigger than him. He’s one of the greatest talents boxing has seen in many years. First ballot HOF.

 

The beatdown of GRJ in his 3rd fight is amazing. His NOMAS run was quite something, and the Haney fight sealed him as a great.

In terms of MICRO tactics; fluidity of combination punching, counters, footwork, he is one of the best, and certainly has one of the most beautiful styles.

In terms of MACRO tactics; a well-thought out 12-round strategy, winning the fight OUTSIDE the ring with stipulations, A-side advantage, etc, he sometimes came up short. Putting your bluechip prospect in with a grizzled veteran is one thing, but not at least paying the ref off to be FAIR is another.

 

Wasted potential. Inactivity really hurt his career, worsened by the fact that he turned pro late and was in a pretty mediocre 126-135 era in the first place. His amateur career gave him the opportunity to fight early for a title, which was good given his age, but his lack of experience in the pro Ring really bit him in the ass against a fighter as dirty as Salido, who should have admittedly been DQ'd. That however doesn't change the fact that Loma was still ill prepared for the rougher aspects of professional Boxing.

His win over Russell was good, even as unproven as Russell was back then, but his 3 title defences afterwards made for one of the worst and most pointless title runs in Featherweight history, wasting almost 2 years of his career in the process. He then had an ok win over Martinez, who was a pretty run of the mill title holder, one that would lose to guys that would lose to the elites. Walters was a pretty good win, he was undefeated and made his fair share of defences, even beating Donaire (even if he was in a weight class that he didn't really belong in). Nothing extraordinary, but it was a very solid win.

Sosa and Marriaga were just another pair of 2 ok wins, neither were really all that. The manner in which he beat Rigondeaux was incredible, but that performance really makes some of his bigger fans forget that Rigo was moved up 2 weight divisions and was 37 years of age. Pretty good win, but let's not make it out to be anything that it's not. His win over Linares is his best win, and it genuinely is a very good one. Pedraza was good, and Crolla and Campell were just ok. He then fumbled the bag and lost pretty clearly to Lopez, then wasted almost 3 years fighting run of the mill fighters like Commey, Nakatani and Ortiz. He then obviously got the short end of the stick against Haney. He is now 36 years old and hasn't fought in almost a year, he is just about done, I doubt he will do anything that would change his standing too much.

All time great talent, but career wise ? Nah. Hall of Famer, but he should not go down as a great, he has no business being ranked over Usyk, Canelo, Chocolatito and Estrada in an all time list, and both Crawford and Inoue's resumes may have already surpassed his.

 

Great talent, flashy and fun to watch. But not an ATG career at all.

 

Great fighter, one of the best of this era, but coming after the era of fighters like Mayweather and Pacquiao, those guys cast a big shadow and he simply was never that kind of once in a generation like talent that they tried to hype him up to be. Usyk for me is a more complete and well rounded fighter and ranks higher P4P in this era.

 

He lost to a man that had almost a dozen loses, then he loses to a kid who was a prospect, and then he can't decisively beat a kid who is very limited.

Lomachenko is the most privileged fighter in boxing history and he failed to deliver.

 

I'm rooting for him to be undisputed at 135. Like the only real challenges left for him are Shakur and Tank. So if he beats them (which would be legendary wins) and becomes the recognized champ (which he rightfully deserves), then he an ATG imo

 

I think he should have got the decision against Salido and Haney.

But he lost to Lopez.

Had he got the W against Haney and then moved up and avenged his loss to Lopez I think he'd be in a greatness argument.

As it is, his run at SFW is probably what he'll be remembered for and unfortunately for him the names don't inspire much.

I think he'll be considered a very good fighter who fell slightly short at the highest level, but would give anyone a good fight.

 

Depends, if you take his amateur career into consideration.

 

A legend. Pugilistic skills taken to a different level.