Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (20-0, six KOs) will put her titles and undefeated record on the line Saturday night when she takes on Amanda Serrano (42-1-1, 30 KOs) in one of the most highly anticipated bouts in women's boxing history.
Taylor is Ring Magazine's top pound-for-pound women's boxer, while Serrano is No. 3 in the same rankings. They are the first women to ever headline a boxing card at Madison Square Garden. Taylor is a technician who strings together combinations and banks rounds with ease, while Serrano is a powerful southpaw with a penchant for pummeling her opponents' midsections.
It's a dream matchup that's taken years to finally come together. We'll soon find out who is the better fighter.
Taylor vs. Serrano Fight Info
When: Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET (main card start)
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York
Live stream: DAZN
Odds: Serrano -145 (bet $145 to win $100), Taylor +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Preview, Predictions
Taylor, 35, is the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF world lightweight champion. She turned pro in 2016 after a decorated amateur career that saw her win five World Championships and a gold medal for Ireland at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She unified the four major lightweight titles with a decision win over Delfine Persoon in June 2019 and hasn't looked back, successfully defending her perch five times since then (while also winning a super lightweight title for good measure).
Serrano, 33, is the betting favorite in this bout despite being the challenger for the world titles. There's a good reason for that.
The Puerto Rican star has dominated at multiple weight classes since turning pro in 2009, racking up titles at every stop. In 2017, she became the first fighter in women's boxing history to win world titles in five weight divisions. She's since added world titles in two more divisions and has even dabbled in mixed martial arts, winning two matches and fighting to a draw in another.
Both fighters are accustomed to outclassing their competition, which is what makes their clash so appealing. Taylor says opportunities like this are the reason she left the amateur ranks.
"These are the fights that I always wanted to be involved in," Taylor said, per ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein. "Always wanted to fight the very, very best in the sport. That's why I did turn professional in the first place."
She's getting her wish in Serrano, who won a lightweight title in 2014 and most recently held three belts in the featherweight ranks. Serrano is a hard hitter who can do considerable damage if Taylor's defense isn't sharp. On the other hand, Serrano will have to prove she can keep up with Taylor's movement, speed and work rate. The contrast in styles could make for some incredible action.
"You're definitely going to see great talent out there, two of the best going at it," Serrano said, per BBC Sport's Coral Barry. "You'll see heart, glory, lots of punches."
Taylor agreed, telling Barry the matchup is "probably the best fight you can see right now, male and female."
So who wins this epic duel? Eddie Hearn (Taylor's promoter) and Jake Paul (Serrano's promoter) are naturally backing their fighters, shaking hands on a $1 million bet on the outcome at Thursday's pre-fight press conference.
Junior lightweight champion Mikaela Mayer, a potential future opponent for the winner, told ESPN.com that it's going to be a close fight but that "the two-minute rounds favors Taylor and her style."
Mayer added: "[Taylor] can get a decision that way. If it were three-minute rounds, I have Serrano winning. Maybe even winning by stoppage."
Bad Left Hook polled four contributors, with two picking Taylor and two picking Serrano.
It figures to be a close match, but the quick rounds and the fact that Taylor is the natural lightweight should help her in this one. It's on her turf, and she's consistently faced tough competition. Look for her to edge Serrano in a classic contest that could well deserve a rematch.
Prediction: Taylor by split decision
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Undefeated knockout artist Gervonta "Tank" Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) will look to keep his perfect record intact Sunday night when he defends his WBA regular lightweight title against Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Davis has emerged as one of boxing's more consistent draws over the past few years. He's a power puncher who thrives on close-range action. His crowd-pleasing style often leads to spectacular knockouts, and he's proved he can get the job done across multiple weight classes.
Cruz, meanwhile, is fighting on a few weeks' notice after Davis' original opponent, Rolando Romero, was removed from the Showtime card following accusations of sexual assault by multiple women, as CBS Sports' Brent Brookhouse reported. Cruz is a tough fighter out of Mexico City who is unbeaten in his past 18 fights. Davis can't overlook him as he continues his ascent toward the top of the sport.
Davis vs. Cruz Fight Info
When: Sunday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles
TV/Live stream: Showtime pay-per-view
Odds: Davis -1600 (bet $,1600 to win $100), Cruz +900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Preview, Prediction
For a few years, it seemed like Davis might not live up to his immense potential. He was often in legal trouble earlier in his career, and in 2017 he was stripped of the IBF super featherweight title after failing to make weight for his bout against Francisco Fonseca (Davis went on to win by knockout).
Since then, Davis has worked hard to avoid slip-ups inside the ring. The results have been impressive, especially as of late.
In 2019, he knocked down veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa three times in a lopsided TKO victory. He followed that up with one of the better knockouts of his career against the excellent Leo Santa Cruz, stopping the Mexican star in the sixth round with a hellacious uppercut.
His most recent fight, against Mario Barrios, was his first at 140 pounds, and it showed Davis has the potential to wreak havoc in whichever division he chooses. For long stretches, Barrios looked like he might have the upper hand, but the Baltimore native maintained his composure and battled through the adversity, dropping his previously unbeaten veteran in the eighth and 11th rounds en route to a TKO win.
Davis might not be topping the pound-for-pound lists just yet, but his star power is undeniable. He's happy to deliver fans what they want to see.
"I fight for whatever makes the most sense," Davis said, per Sporting News's Andreas Hale. "I just want to be the fighter people want to pay to see fight."
Considering Cruz isn't well-known and is a heavy underdog coming into this one, fans who show up at Staples Center and buy the pay-per-view will be expecting a vicious knockout. Davis is riding a 16-fight stoppage streak. It would be considered a disappointment if Cruz were to end his run. Anything can happen inside the ring, though, and Cruz believes his hard-nosed style and power will surprise the champion.
"The fact that I can come forward and present my power," Cruz said through an interpreter, per Boxing Scene's Keith Idec. "Once I show him my power, then I think the fight will take a turn."
If Cruz is true to his word and Davis is in form, this could be a brutal match. Davis can box from the outside as he sizes up his opponents, but a phone-booth brawl could also serve the southpaw well. Just ask Santa Cruz.
While an upset is always possible when two heavy-hitters collide, Davis has shown he can elevate his game when he needs to. Look for him to deliver for the fans and stop Cruz in the middle rounds. He should be plenty motivated to put in a performance considering how competitive the lightweight division is.
WBC world champion Devin Haney has a massive fight against JoJo Diaz on Saturday, and George Kambosos Jr. just upended the lightweight division with his shock win over Teofimo Lopez. If Davis wins comfortably against Cruz, he can set himself up for another big pay-per-view and a chance to cement his status as one of the sport's brightest stars.
Prediction: Davis by mid-round knockout.
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It's taken longer than anyone might have expected, but Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) will finally put his WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight world titles on the line against George Kambosos Jr. (19-0, 10 KOs) on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City.
This is Lopez's first fight since Oct. 2020, when he beat Vasiliy Lomachenko by unanimous decision to win the Ukrainian's WBA and WBO titles (he came into the bout as the IBF titleholder). The upset win over the highly revered Lomachenko vaulted Lopez from promising young champion to pound-for-pound standard-bearer.
Kambosos, a 28-year-old from Sydney, Australia, is a heavy underdog despite his undefeated record. His last two bouts—against Mickey Bey in Dec. 2019 and Lee Selby in Oct. 2020—were both split-decision victories. Scoring an upset against Lopez will require Kambosos to outdo all his previous efforts and reach a new level of skill and tenacity.
This title fight was initially set for May, but it was rescheduled several times. It was also originally set to be a Triller production, but the IBF found Triller in default of its contract because of a late attempt at yet another date change, and it awarded the bout to Matchroom Boxing.
Lopez vs. Kambosos Jr. Fight Info
When: Saturday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Madison Square Garden Theater in New York
Live stream: DAZN
Fight Odds: Lopez -1000 (bet $1,000 to win $100), Kambosos +600 (bet $100 to win $600)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
The months of waiting for this fight to take place doesn't appear to have put a damper on the occasion. In fact, it appears it's only allowed the tensions to simmer. In Tuesday's pre-fight press conference, the animosity between the two prizefighters was palpable.
Kambosos said he'll do whatever it takes to win and took shots at Lopez over how he's spent his time in the limelight after unifying three of the four major belts at 135 pounds.
"Victory by any means. I'm taking all them belts home to Australia. While he's been in the bright lights enjoying himself, smoking his little hookah, enjoying it with the drinks and partying, going to every fight event like a groupie, I've been in the trenches," said Kambosos, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ.
An unfocused approach seems to be just about the only thing that can stop Lopez from taking care of business Saturday night. He packs far more power than Kambosos—take a look at his vicious KO of Richard Commey to win the IBF title if you need evidence—and there's no significant difference between the two in the height and reach department.
While some might downplay Lopez's victory over Lomachenko because of the latter's shoulder injury affecting him during the fight, it's still clear he can execute a game plan and remain calm against one of the best fighters in the sport today. Lopez doesn't seem to think he'll have any trouble against a fighter of Kambosos' caliber.
"I can switch the momentum when I need to, and that's a key factor in my arsenal. I'm looking forward to seeing what this guy can do," said Lopez, per DAZN.com's Christopher Walker. "I'm looking forward to a one-round war. I honestly don't think this fight will go past the first round. I'll be honest with you. I've been stopping sparring partners to head and body. I'm praying it's worse than the Mason Menard fight."
Kambosos can't be taken too lightly, as he's scored recent knockdowns against Bey and Richard Pena, but he likely won't be able to stand up to the pressure in later rounds. Look for Lopez to get a late stoppage win, setting the stage for his planned move up to 140 pounds.
Prediction: Lopez by late TKO
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It wasn't always easy, but Devin Haney survived the toughest test of his young career, defeating veteran boxer Jorge Linares by unanimous decision to retain his WBC world lightweight championship on Saturday night at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
The judges scored the bout 116-112, 116-112, 115-113, per the DAZN broadcast.
For nearly 10 full rounds, Haney put in a confident all-around performance. His jab was sharp and swift, he mixed in power punches to the head and body, and his defense was on point. Linares nearly stole the fight at the end with a short right hand stunning Haney in the final seconds of the 10th round, very similar to the one that saw him knock down Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2018. Here's a look at the punch, per DAZN Boxing:
It forced 22-year-old world champion to stumble to the finish line, clinching to avoid a potential knockout blow in the final two rounds.
Boxing writer Steve Kim and actress Rosie Perez reacted to the fight:
Haney, who remains undefeated, acknowledged he took a big shot, but quickly turned his attention to a potential unification bout, per The Athletic's Lance Pugmire:
Haney pumped the jab early and often. His left hand was constantly buzzing Linares' chin, forcing him to keep his guard high and opening up opportunities to throw combos to the torso. Linares did manage to keep Haney honest with a few check hooks that landed cleanly, but he struggled to keep up with the younger fighter's pace.
Ring's Douglass Fischer liked what he saw from the champion:
Haney kept up the aggression in the third round, stinging Linares with a right hook early in the round, and he also showed off his superior reflexes, pulling away from a few counterpunches aching to find a home.
Linares started making inroads in the fourth round, waiting for Haney to commit before firing back with left and right hooks. Even with the improved offense, he still kept eating jabs and well-timed power shots. The Athletic's Mike Coppinger noted the mounting damage Linares was taking:
In his last time out, Haney failed to knock out a clearly overmatched Yuriorkis Gamboa. That might've been weighing on the young fighter, as he was much keener to stay in the pocket against Linares. The sixth round saw the two fighters go toe-to-toe for nearly all three minutes. Haney landed a couple of uppercuts and pushed the 35-year-old Venezuelan around the ring, but the shift away from the jab allowed the elder fighter to get his timing down, leading to some of his best punches of the fight.
You could see the gears slowing down for Linares in the eighth round as Haney's relentless work on his ribcage took its toll. Haney remained a well-oiled machine, using his power jab to set up harder shots to the chin and body. A left hook early in the frame snapped Linares' head back, per DAZN Boxing:
Despite taking a ton of punishment, Linares came within shouting distance of a win thanks to that anvil of a punch at end of the 10th round. It sent Haney stumbling back to his corner, and his legs still weren't underneath him in the 11th. After a mostly dominant performance, Haney was hanging on for dear life, drawing heavy boos from the crowd for his excessive clinching.
Haney managed to avoid the shocking upset, but his performance will raise some questions going forward. Clearly, he has great speed, technical skill and a multifaceted jab. However, the power just might not be there, as he wasn't able to get a knockdown against either Gamboa or Linares, aging veterans who have taken several trips to the canvas in their careers.
We also know Haney is vulnerable to good counterpunching, which could be a problem against a heavy-handed, sharp fighter like Teofimo Lopez, who may very well be his next opponent.
Devin Haney (25-0, 15 KOs) will be looking for a statement win on Saturday night when he defends his WBC world lightweight title against former three-division world champion Jorge Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) in Las Vegas.
After spending a few years running through prospects and journeymen, Haney is now taking on veteran boxers known for their craft and skill, even if they are a few years past their prime. He's passed one such test so far, beating Yuriorkis Gamboa by a wide decision victory in November.
Linares, 35, is perhaps an even tougher challenge for Haney. He's a couple years younger than Gamboa, was a world champion at lightweight from 2014 to 2018 and has beaten the likes of Luke Campbell and Anthony Crolla (twice).
If Haney impresses against the Venezuelan, he could end up on a collision course with Teofimo Lopez for a unification bout at 135 pounds.
Here's how to watch.
Haney vs. Linares Fight Info
When: Saturday, May 29 at 8 p.m. ET (11:15 p.m. ET main event, per DAZN)
Where: Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas
Live stream: DAZN
Odds (via DraftKings): Haney -1430 (bet $1,430 to win $100), Linares +550
Though he's only 22 years old, the oddsmakers don't seem to think Haney is overextending himself by taking on Linares. Undefeated prospects like him don't often slip on this rung of the ladder. All he has to do is box smartly and stay out of trouble against Linares. It's up to the veteran to come up with something spectacular in this bout, which is why he's such a heavy underdog.
Haney was in complete control last time out against Gamboa, utilizing a strong jab and putting together crisp, clean combinations. He wasn't quite as explosive as he or his backers might have hoped for, but he was also never really in danger. Then again, neither was Gamboa, who did a lot of clinching and avoided the big punches.
If Haney is razor sharp on Saturday night, he could get the stoppage he so badly wanted last time out. Linares has lost five times in his career, all of them by stoppage. He was also knocked down in a win over Kevin Mitchell in 2015, and he suffered a nasty cut against Mercito Gesta in 2018.
If he goes toe-to-toe with Haney, he may be vulnerable to an early finish. According to DraftKings, the odds of Haney winning by stoppage are -200, and +210 on points.
Haney only has a 60 percent career knockout rate, but he's going to be highly motivated to put on a show after failing to stop Gamboa. A brutal knockout isn't likely to happen, but an accumulation of damage just might give him a late-round TKO.
"Jorge brings so much to the table. Speed, power, ring IQ, experience against the best of the best, and I think he's the type of opponent that will bring the best out of me, make me bring out my A-game, take it to the next level, the elite level," Haney said, per WorldBoxingNews.net.
If you happen to think Linares is going to pull off the upset, then a straight bet should do just fine considering the odds. He might be an outside threat to win on stoppage if he puts on a vintage showing. He did manage to knock down the Vasiliy Lomachenko in Round 5 of their 2018 matchup, before going on to lose by TKO in the 10th. He's also coming off a fourth-round knockout of Carlos Morales in February 2020.
Linares thinks he can stun Haney if they get into a slugfest.
"If he wants to fight inside, I am ready for him. He's going to have big problems on Saturday night, he knows I can do everything, and he knows I have the timing to put him down," he said, per Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ.
The odds for Linares to win by stoppage are +1100, and +2100 on the scorecards. He doesn't have a strong knockout rate, but considering Haney's speed, technique and age, its hard to see the Venezuelan outclassing his opponent for a full 12 rounds.
Ryan Garcia earned the biggest victory of his promising young career Saturday, knocking out Luke Campbell with a devastating body punch in the seventh round to cap off an entertaining, back-and-forth lightweight match at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The punch that ended the fight was a thing of beauty. Here's a look, via DAZN Boxing:
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael and former boxer Tony Bellew reacted to Garcia's win, which earned him the interim WBC world lightweight title:
Campbell (20-4, 16 KOs) proved to be the tough test that many expected he would be, scoring a knockdown in the second round that forced the 22-year-old to dig deep and regroup. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) had his troubles on the defensive side of things, but he stayed calm throughout the fight. In the end, his offense proved to be too much for Campbell, who had suffered multiple knockdowns in his career but never a stoppage.
"I knew I could beat him. I just had to get back up and show everyone I could do it, that I'm a warrior," Garcia said after the fight, per the DAZN broadcast. Garcia went on to call out both Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Devin Haney, two other young stars at 135 pounds. With his skills and huge popularity among younger fans, he will likely get his wish very soon.
Garcia started off the fight aggressively, snapping jabs to the body and whipping his excellent left hook to the head. The younger boxer's speed advantage was never in doubt, and he used it effectively. Campbell weathered some of the early storm and landed a couple of good counterpunches.
Campbell stunned the American crowd with a little over a minute in the second round, throwing a jab to the body and then going over the guard with a massive overhand left that sent Garcia to the canvas.
DAZN Boxing has the highlight:
Garcia responded well, using his speed to keep Campbell from pressing his advantage. ESPN's Max Kellerman noted a major flaw in Garcia's performance:
Despite leaving himself wide open to Campbell's attacks with the poor footwork, Garcia managed to stay competitive by leaning on his natural gifts. His hand speed prevented the Englishman from ever letting his own hands go, as he had to fend off quick two-handed combinations. He did well to switch levels too, mixing up punches to the head and body.
Campbell did well by sticking with the fundamentals, leading to a couple of very competitive rounds. Garcia's defense was lacking, so anytime the California native got in close, Campbell countered with power shots. It was a smart strategy, but it started to unravel late in the fifth when Garcia landed a left hook that clearly hurt Campbell, who was lucky it came in the last few seconds of the round.
DAZN's Andreas Hale noted it was a great finish to a tough round for Garcia:
Here's the punch, per DAZN Boxing:
After a back-and-forth sixth round, Garcia got the punch he was looking for, earning his third straight KO. It was well-deserved considering the adversity he faced early in the match. Campbell is a good fighter who performed admirably against the likes of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares, but he didn't have enough to get the upset.
Garcia is an exciting fighter, but he will have to polish up parts of his game if he wants to beat Davis or Haney, who holds the WBC lightweight title that Garcia is now the mandatory challenger for. He didn't do much to move his head in the bout and was flat-footed at times. If he doesn't clean up those problems with trainer Eddy Reynoso (who also trains Canelo Alvarez), that will be dangerous against a massive power puncher like Davis.
Ryan Garcia is out to prove there's enough substance behind his style to make him a legitimate top boxer. The 22-year-old prospect will face the most significant test of his young career on Saturday when he fights Luke Campbell for the interim WBC world lightweight title.
Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) has a huge following on social media and has been groomed for stardom by Golden Boy Promotions. He's impressed so far in his early career with his blazing fast hand speed, but it's going to take much more than that if he's going to hang around in an exciting lightweight division.
Campbell (20-3, 16 KOs) is a solid contender coming off a decision loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko. The 33-year-old southpaw hasn't yet won a world title in his career, but this could be his best chance to do it if Garcia doesn't bring his best stuff into the ring.
Although the fight is taking place on a Saturday in Dallas, it's actually an early-afternoon card. Here's how to watch.
Garcia vs. Campbell Fight Info
When: Saturday, Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. ET (6 p.m. ET for main event)
Where: American Airlines Center in Dallas
Live stream: DAZN (subscription required)
Odds: Garcia -435, Campbell +290 (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)
It's been a long time since Garcia has spent more than a couple minutes inside of a professional boxing ring. His last two fights ended with first-round knockouts, both of them around the 90-second mark. The more recent of the two, against Francisco Fonseca last January, was particularly stunning in its swiftness and brutality.
Garcia hasn't gone to the judges since a win over Carlos Morales in September 2018. His quick hands and ability to wait patiently for an opening have served him well and made for great entertainment. The Southern California native is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also trains Canelo Alvarez. If Garcia is the gem many believe him to be, Reynoso is going to make him shine.
Garcia is already dreaming big, hoping he can line up a fight against Gervonta "Tank" Davis and some other big names if he's successful on Saturday, per DAZN:
The danger for Garcia is that because success has come so quickly and easily for him, he might be exposed before he's had time to refine the weaker parts of his game.
Campbell, in theory, should be able tease out the budding star's flaws, and perhaps exploit them enough to earn a victory. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist looked solid against Lomachenko in the early goings before the latter's pressure fighting and well-laid traps proved to be too much for him to handle.
Being a step or two below Lomachenko is nothing to be ashamed of, and for all we know, it means he's still going to be on a different level than the young Garcia. Campbell isn't fazed by the younger fighter's eye-catching social media clips.
"It all looks good on video, but there's plenty of kids out there who can hit the pads quickly—but not look good in the ring. You can throw 1,000 uppercuts in five seconds on the pads. But it's not real. There's no one in front of you trying to take your head [off], just someone holding the pads," he said, per ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson.
Garcia has definitely looked good in the ring at times, but the competition has been lacking. If he can put together another highlight reel against a tough contender like Campbell, it will go a long way toward proving to his doubters that he's more than a pretty face.
It's the kind of fight boxing fans live for, but it doesn't happen nearly often enough. On Saturday night, Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs), considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, will take on Teofimo Lopez Jr. (15-0, 12 KOs) in a lightweight world title unification bout.
Both fighters have just 15 professional bouts under their belts, but they're at very different stages of their careers.
Lomachenko is 32 years old and holds the WBA and WBO world lightweight titles. After winning two Olympic gold medals as an amateur, he turned pro in 2013 and quickly established himself as one of the most skilled boxers around, dazzling fans with his impeccable timing, sublime combinations and defensive wizardry.
Lopez, by contrast, is a 23-year-old IBF world titleholder who has demonstrated some great technical gifts to go along with his eye-catching power.
At an age when many top fighters are still carefully working to preserve their unblemished records, he is putting it all on the line as a solid underdog. He's been angling to take on the Ukrainian for some time now and is finally getting his wish.
This marquee bout will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and has fight-of-the-year potential, so it's worth clearing the schedule for. Here's how to watch.
Lomachenko vs. Lopez Fight Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: MGM Grand in Las Vegas
TV: ESPN
Live stream: ESPN.com or ESPN+
Odds: Lomachenko -435 (bet $435 to win $100), Lopez +290 (bet $100 to win $290) (via Draftkings Sportsbook)
This is an ambitious undertaking for Lopez, as Lomachenko represents a major step up from any of his previous competition.
When we last saw the Honduran-American, he pummeled veteran Richard Commey for about four minutes to score a second-round knockout and win the IBF title in December.
The bout solidified him as Lomachenko's top contender, putting him in position to complete the "takeover" he and his father, Teofimo Lopez Sr., have been promoting for the last couple of years. To them, Lomachenko is just part of the plan.
"This is the fight that's going to make my son a superhero," Lopez Sr. said in August, per ESPN.com's Steve Kim. "He's going to be like Superman."
Lopez has echoed his father's confidence every step of the way.
"You will see a 23-year-old become an undisputed world champ. Simple as that," said the young prizefighter, per Kim.
If only it were that simple. It's going to take more than raw power and youthful exuberance to defeat the crafty, disciplined Lomachenko.
The Ukrainian is a master at breaking down his opponents while taking minimal damage. He's not a perfect fit at lightweight and will give up size to Lopez, but his speed, accuracy and clever traps will give the younger boxer much to think about in the ring.
Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ thinks it would be unwise for Lopez to try to outbox Lomachenko, but he did offer one possible route to victory:
"What he may try to do is box with Lomachenko enough to set up his expected large advantage: pure, raw power. If he can get Lomachenko into trades, he might find a home for something huge. Lomachenko is not a natural lightweight. He is legitimately small at 135 pounds, and it’s reasonable enough to question if he can consistently take power shots from Lopez, a serious puncher at this weight."
Consistency will be key, but Lopez still has to worry about taking punishment as well. Lomachenko is adept at changing levels, equally capable of targeting the head or eroding an opponent's stamina and willpower by targeting the body.
After the years of chatter building up to this fight, the Ukrainian appears eager to do more than just safely box and move.
"I want to beat him very badly, very, very badly. I want to really beat him badly," Lomachenko told The Ring's Dan Rafael. "(Lopez's father) thinks (Lopez is) a big superstar like Tyson Fury. That's why they do the trash talk. They act like they're a big superstar, but they're not."
Lopez may not be a big superstar just yet, but he will be if he scores the upset on Saturday night. A win over Lomachenko at this stage would set him up for a long, lucrative career. Even if he loses, though, there's still plenty of time for him to establish himself.
Lomachenko, meanwhile, is nearing the end of his prime, and having started his professional career at the age of 25, he is going to want to wear the crown as long as he can.
