THERE?S another intriguing matchup happening today in the super featherweight division between reigning WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko and challenger Nicholas Walters.
Lomachenko hails from Ukraine and owns a decorated amateur career, having won gold medals in the Beijing and London Olympics.
He turned pro in only in 2013 and so he has had only seven pro fights so far, garnering a record of 6-1, 4KOs.
That lone blemish came in the form of a disputed split decision loss against former world champion Orlando Salido, but he bounced back nicely from that defeat by winning his first world title against Gary Russel Jr. in only his third pro fight!
He has since moved up in weight and in his last fight defeated Roman Martinez via stoppage for the WBO diadem.
Lomachenko is a very technical fighter, has fast hands and throws excellent combinations. Promoter Bob Arum is effusive in his praise of the Ukranian fighter, calling him the most complete boxer he has seen since Muhammad Ali.
WALTERS. His polar opposite in so many ways, Walters did not have any amateur record to speak of and adopts a take-no-prisoners approach inside the ring.
His roster of victims include prolific punchers like Vic Darchinyan, Miguel Marriaga and our very own Nonito Donaire.
If that tells you anything, you will discern right away that Walters is a tough, feral warrior with prodigious power especially in that right hand.
MATCH-UP. This is another one of those fights where the aphorism ?styles makes fights? holds true.
On paper, Walters is easily the safer bet. He has more pro fights under his belt, and his edge in the power department tips the scales in his favor.
Lomachenko is a bit of an enigma. You can see the skill level is right up there, after all a 396-1 record as an amateur is nothing to scoff at.
He?s like Guillermo Rigondeaux in a sense, who also had a sterling amateur career and won his first world title in 9th fight.
But you never really know how good they are until they square off against an A-list opponent. Lomachenko?s vaunted technical skill will no doubt be put to a real test against ?Axeman? Walters.
This is a fight that could easily go either way. If Walters hurts Lomachenko early, it could be a short night.
Judging from the Salido fight, Lomachenko doesn?t like being pressured and swarmed.
However if Lomachenko finds his rhythm early, he can easily outbox Walters who is easy to hit. A stoppage win for the Ukrainian is not a farfetched possibility with his penchant for prolific body punching.
This is a toss-up fight and though I?m leaning towards Walters, I am partial to Lomachenko who would make for a perfect opponent for Donaire.
Unfortunately, the ? Filipino Flash? dropped the ball big time when he lost a very winnable fight against Jessie Magdaleno a couple of weeks ago.
Had he won thar fight, he would have been the logical choice to fight the winner of this fight.
VERBATIM. ?Since he did lose to Salido, Lomachenko can be as technical as he wants, but I am in the hurt business??Nicholas Walters ( www.boxing.com)
LAST ROUNDS. Are on Karen Fiel Tio and Rayboy Aleonar who recently celebrated their birthdays. Cheers!
