LOS ANGELES — From the day Vasyl Lomachenko turned professional in 2013 following perhaps the greatest amateur boxing career in history, a run that included a 396-1 record (loss avenged) and Olympic gold medals for Ukraine in 2008 and 2012, his biggest motivation was to make boxing history.
To Lomachenko, that meant collecting as many titles in as many weight classes as quickly as he could, and earning recognition as the pound-for-pound king.
He won a vacant featherweight world title in his third professional fight with a masterpiece decision against Gary Russell Jr. to tie the record for fewest fights needed to win a world title. In pro fight No. 7, he made more history, spectacularly knocking out Roman “Rocky” Martinez in the fifth round 14 months ago to win a junior lightweight title. That set the record for fewest bouts needed to win belts in two weight divisions.
To Lomachenko, that meant collecting as many titles in as many weight classes as quickly as he could, and earning recognition as the pound-for-pound king.
He won a vacant featherweight world title in his third professional fight with a masterpiece decision against Gary Russell Jr. to tie the record for fewest fights needed to win a world title. In pro fight No. 7, he made more history, spectacularly knocking out Roman “Rocky” Martinez in the fifth round 14 months ago to win a junior lightweight title. That set the record for fewest bouts needed to win belts in two weight divisions.
On Saturday, Lomachenko will have to settle for the best available opponent willing to fight him. Step right up, Miguel Marriaga (25-2, 21 KOs), 30, a former two-time featherweight title challenger from Colombia, who is moving up in weight.
Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) will make the third defense of his 130-pound world title against Marriaga at the at the Microsoft Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles, in the main event of a card that will air live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, and stream live on the ESPN app, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
In the co-feature, lightweight contender Ray Beltran (33-7-1, 21 KOs), 36, of Phoenix, will face former interim junior lightweight titlist Bryan Vasquez (35-2, 19 KOs), 29, of Costa Rica, in a scheduled 10-round bout. Beltran is closing in on a mandatory world title opportunity.
Lomachenko, 29, is a heavy favorite against Marriaga, though he would be a heavy favorite against anybody in his weight division. Still, he gave credit to Marriaga for at least accepting the fight, which comes just 3? months after Marriaga lost a decision challenging featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez in an exciting fight on April 22.
“Marriaga has heart. He has the courage to get into the ring and fight. I respect that a lot,” Lomachenko said. “I did see his bout against Oscar Valdez and what can I tell you about him? He is strong and his conditioning is good. He has skills. I don’t think it is going to be easy for me.”
Marriaga wasn’t the first choice for Lomachenko’s next opponent. Initially, Top Rank hoped to make a rematch between Lomachenko and Orlando Salido, who was stripped of his featherweight title for being overweight when he won a split decision against Lomachenko in Lomachenko’s second pro fight. Ultimately, Salido turned down the rematch, opening the door for Marriaga.
