Vasyl Lomachenko, one of the hottest, most supremely talented fighters on the scene today – one of the best fighters he has ever worked with according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum – is set to return to action in Las Vegas on November 26. According to a piece by The Las Vegas Review-Journal, Arum said on Saturday that the reigning WBO 130-pound ruler will fight at The Cosmopolitan with his opponent still to be officially confirmed.
But there are two likely contenders for the shot: Nicholas Walters and Jezreel Corrales. Either of these two, both good, capable fighters, would be decent enough for Lomachenko – who at 6-1(4) has to be THE finest 6-1 fighter in boxing history – but neither guy figures to defeat the Ukrainian sensation. Last time out, in June, Lomachenko scored an absolutely devastating KO over Roman Martinez, in many peoples’ pick for KO of The Year.
Fans would have liked to have seen Lomachenko fight a return bout with Mexican warrior Orlando Salido, the only man to have beaten him at pro level, but unfortunately the two sides could not make a deal. But whoever the 28-year-old southpaw known as “Hi-Tech” fights in November, fans are sure to tune in. Now a pound-for-pound star, Lomachenko, one of the finest amateur boxers of recent times, is as exciting as he is talented.
Walters, unbeaten at 26-0-1(21) has not yet fought this year, his last fight being a December 2015 draw with Jason Sosa, and the Jamaican who made four retentions of the WBA featherweight title will need a great performance if he is to test Lomachenko. At his best though, “The Axe Man” can be a vicious puncher and he has on his record great wins over Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan.
Corrales, 20-1(8) and a southpaw like Lomachenko, has not lost since way back in 2009 (in his second pro outing) and he has recently put together some impressive wins; the man from Roberto Duran country winning the WBA 130-pound belt with a stoppage of the then unbeaten Takashi Uchiyama in an upset in April of this year.
Of the two names mentioned as possible foes for Lomachenko (and he could end up facing someone other than Walters and Corrales in his next fight) Corrales looks the most attractive. But it would take a brave fan to bet on either guy derailing Lomachenko. Greatness seems to be in Lomachenko’s future.
