Lomachenko, Lopez to give boxing fans a gift: free fight

In ordinary times, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez would be fight of fall, a lightweight title match about as compelling as it gets in boxing world se days.

And in ordinary times people would have to cough up hundreds of dollars to sit at ringside or $74.99 to watch it on pay-per-view.

“It would probably be a big pay-per-view with 20,000 in stands," promoter Bob Arum said. “But coronavirus has upset a lot of business and people are dying. We’ve got to be thankful for what we have."

Boxing fans should be thankful, too. y’re getting a quality fight — and y’re getting it for free.

Inste of a big crowd, only fans at MGM Grand conference center will be a few hundred sponsors and first responders with special invites. And, inste of pay-per-view, fight will be televised live on ESPN, guaranteeing a larger audience than a pay-per-view even if money isn’t nearly same.

“It could be biggest possible audience for a boxing match that I can remember,” Arum said.

Those tuning in should be in for a treat in a fight with three different 135-pound titles at stake. Lomachenko is widely regarded as one of top pound-for-pound fighters in sport, while Lopez is an undefeated power puncher er to make himself a household name.

re’s also some tension between two fighters that goes back to a confrontation Lopez’s far h with Lomachenko in a hotel lobby two years ago when both were on same card in New York. It was n that Lopez vowed to chase down a fight with Lomachenko, masterful Ukrainian who won two Olympic gold medals.

“I don’t think about it being personal, I don’t have a problem with his family and this boy,’’ Lomachenko said. ”But we can check what’s better to prove things, in ring or outside ring."

Both fighters will make less money than y might have me in pre-virus times to top a fight card that will fill ESPN’s Saturday night schedule. Both are risking future riches, too, in a fight that will show just how far Brooklyn-born Lopez has come since losing in 2016 Olympics while representing Honduras.

Lopez is 15-0 as a pro with 12 kckouts but is taking a big step up in class against Lomachenko, whose technical skills are widely praised around boxing.

“This is part where I’m leing new generation,” 23-year-old Lopez said. “Winning this is a stamp and a mark to put on for new era. Get your popcorn rey and just enjoy show.”

While Lopez is relatively inexperienced as a pro he holds a portion of 135-pound title and hasn’t lost since dropping a decision in Rio Olympics. He’s kwn as an emotional fighter who possesses both quickness and power and, like Lomachenko, is trained by his far.

But he will be facing off against a fighter regarded by most in boxing as best technician in sport. Lomachenko also has just 15 fights (14-1, 10 kckouts) but has been facing top caliber fighters since turning pro after winning his second gold medal in 2012 Olympics in London.

He brings t only his skills but some ring rust into fight, having t fought in 14 months since winning a decision in London over Luke Campbell to win his third title belt.

“I have never been out of ring for one full year like this. Ever," Lomachenko said. ”I don’t kw how it will be."

fight tops a card promoted by Arum’s Top Rank from MGM Grand, where Arum has held all his cards since pandemic began. undercard will also be televised on ESPN, with main event card starting at 10 p.m. EDT.

“We think it’s a fascinating fight,” Arum said. “Lomachenko is a great machine, a technical genius with way he does distance and footwork. Yet he’s in with a guy who’s very athletic and is skilled beyond his years as far as boxing kwledge goes.”

Oddsmakers like Lomachenko’s chances, making him a 3-1 favorite in scheduled 12-round bout. And he likes idea of having all belts at once, even without fans to root him on.

“I think it’s just a ring and judges and TV,” Lomachenko said. “That’s it. And, of course, four belts.”

Im credits: AP