Mikey Garcia had his say last week. And now it?s Vasyl Lomachenko?s turn.
The furious phenom from Ukraine is set to return Garcia?s serve after the Californian?s masterful decision over Adrien Broner last week. Whether or not a superfight between the two pans out is anybody?s guess. Lomachenko currently resides at 130 and Garcia just hopped to 140. But a showdown at 135 is not out of reach, and so boxing fans can only hope the 29-year-olds linger in each other?s vicinity long enough so that a pound-for-pound showdown can be worked out.
Meantime, Lomachenko will try to one-up Garcia?s near-flawless performance when he takes on Miguel Marriaga at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles (8 p.m., Saturday, ESPN and ESPN Deportes).
Lomachenko, 8-1 (6 knockouts), actually came face-to-face with Garcia, 37-0 (30 KO?s) this week at ESPN studios. In stark contrast to the Mayweather-McGregor histrionics, Lomachenko, a Ukrainian training and living in Oxnard, Calif., and Garcia, a Mexican-American from Oxnard, were gentlemanly and pleasant toward each other. They posed for a photo and were on their way.
The photo did illustrate Garcia?s size advantage. Though both stand at 5-foot-6, Garcia appears bigger and broader. Not that it means much. Garcia has gained weight since his win over Broner on July 29, while southpaw Lomachenko is maintaining weight in anticipation of his defense of the WBO super featherweight title against Marriaga.
If you?re wondering why the subject is Lomachenko-Garcia and not Lomachenko-Marriaga, it?s because Marriaga, 25-2 (21 KO?s), has no chance. And that?s nothing against the ?Scorpion,? who, as his record attests, can fight. But the Colombian is just not in Lomachenko?s class.
Marriaga has lost his two most significant fights, a 2015 decision to Nicholas Walters and, in his last fight in April, a nod to Oscar Valdez. He is tough and earnest and willing. But he?s faced with a near-impossible challenge in ?Hi-Tech.?
Lomachenko was supposed to battle Mexican brawler Orlando Salido in an attempt to avenge his only loss that came in March 2014. It would?ve an impressive second installment of ESPN?s new boxing partnership with Top Rank?s Bob Arum that kicked off on July 1 with Jeff Horn?s upset of Manny Pacquiao in Australia. Lomachenko-Salido 2 is pay-per-view worthy stuff, and though Lomachenko?s recent progress would?ve demanded he be the favorite, some suspect that Salido?s pressure style is Hi-Tech?s Achilles heel. But the camps couldn?t agree on Salido?s purse, and so here we are.
