Why do you think Loma never had the same level of success as Usyk

Too small. He went up too high. 130 was probably his highest weight with greatness potential.

 

Just completely different circumstances really.

He turned pro too late.

Fought in different divisions, but in the much lower ones.

It’s a shame.

They just took very different paths and had very different opportunities.

 

They managed Usyk more wisely and made sure he wasn't robbed.

 

He was managed poorly at the start of his career. Going into 12-rounders in his second fight was a bad move, which hampered his development, Salido and then Gary Russell Jr in your second and third fights is awful matchmaking. I think that's the main reason, alongside a few others that people have already mentioned: he turned pro a bit too late and went above his weight ceiling. Still had an amazing career though and a no-brainer for the HOF.

 

Not as good of a stamina as Usyk, less powerful, lower boxing iq, worse chin, doesn't have the Usyk mamba mentality...to dig deep down into the well and try to win no matter what...Usyk is fearless and relentless.

 

Most of the "setbacks" Loma had, Usyk also had to face. Usyk turned pro even later than Loma did, and didn't even win his first title before he was 4 months shy of 30. Loma was ranked in the top 3 P4P by the time he was 30. Loma was too small for guys like Lopez ? As if Usyk wasn't supposed to be for Fury, AJ and Dubois. Covid, injuries, same deal.

The answer is simple. He didn't seem to live and breath pro Boxing the same way Usyk did. He wasn't half assing it (I'd assume), but he didn't go any extra steps or beyond.

Usyk gives me the impression of a guy who pays attention to everything, every detail, every weaknesses or flaw in a fighter etc, in order to win. He gives off the feeling of a guy that is desperate to win, even though he might not outwardly express that desperation. He did say he doesn't properly even see his family when training.

A guy like that does anything he possibly can to win and doesn't come in naive or arrogant. He always finds a way to win. Loma on the other hand found ways to lose when he should have stepped up. He didn't do anything for the Salido fouls, he didn't drop his balls early enough vs Lopez, and his arrogance in thinking he was ahead prevented him from going beyond the extra step and firmly solidyfing the Haney win. What did Usyk do when Fury was starting to win the fight ? He beat the **** out of him and knocked him on the ropes.

Also yeah, management. Usyk beat basically everyone at CW, while Loma's only win of note at 126 is Russell, wasting years of his career with uranked fighters. Usyk had 2 tune ups before basically beating the 3 greatest HWs of his generation, each of them twice. Loma was fighting blown up Rigo and Walters at 130, oh and the legend that was Marriaga. Not to mention that between the Lopez and Haney fights, Loma just wasted his time. Ortiz was unranked, Nakatani was bottom of the barrel, and Commey was just ok. Another 2 years for nothing, he just assumed things would turn out alright, because he's the matrix.

One guy took it as seriously as possible due to his humility, the other did not because of his arrogance.

 

Injuries and robbery's were a big part of it.

 

Loma has better footwork and skill set but he is also competing in the lower weight class where the opponent is also faster and to cap that he was facing massive weight cutters at lightweight. He also have shorter limbs which make it difficult to get inside against much bigger opponents.
Usyk though outweight at heavy but have longer arms and bigger joint so do not suffer the same disadvantage as Loma.
But the key is I think Usyk just have a better ring IQ than Loma.. he is aware of close rounds and how to steal them.

 

Not only is Lopez significantly bigger than Loma, but when he's on his A-game, he's a phenomenal fighter and miles ahead of Joshua P4P; the same can be said for Gary Russell, whom Loma fought in his third fight. Joshua doesn't even move his head, and Dubois's ring IQ is frightening for the level he's managed to get to. Usyk has been fortunate at HW, as Joshua and Dubois, who make up 50% of his entire HW resume, both have zero ring IQ at the elite level.

I'm not disputing that Usyk is the greater fighter, of course he is, he also gives up huge weight differences, but Lomachenko definitely had a much steeper mountain to climb due to bad management, and that shaved years off his pro career IMO.

 

Should have stayed at 126/130

 

Honestly, I have to agree with this (shocking, I know). Loma had an arrogance, likely fueled by his incredible amateur career, that he never fully shook. It's what stopped him from being able to dig deep when he really needed it and be great (something Usyk has proven he can do) despite Loma arguably being the more talented fighters of the two. (And to be fair, the war certainly didn't help). If he could have overcome that and learned to box like a pro from the beginning I think he beats both Lopez and Haney and would've solidified himself as a true ATG, rather than being seen as an amazing talent who just fell short.

 

I know all his haters love to say "No excuses" but lets face it without the shoulder injury he would've beaten Lopez and he was robbed blind against Haney.

 

And Salido should have lost, the low blows were excessive

 

I agree with most of the comments (if not all). I think Loma probably was rushed too fast. Fighting in 12 rounders and for belts by his second pro fight is crazy. I also think Usyk was just a better fighter. Yeah they have basically the same style but Usyk has more power, better chin, stamina, and heart (controversial but true IMO). Usyk has things Loma lacked.