Vasyl Lomachencko vs. Teofimo Lopez

 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 17

TV: ESPN

By Peter Lim

The outcome of this showdown ultimately boils down to which fighter can make the better adaptions and adjustments as the fight progresses. The obvious answer to that is Lomachencko. But he has to do it to perfection since Lopez has the propensity to end the fight with a single punch - one bad mistake and it might be lights out for the Ukrainian. Lopez, on the other hand, can afford to take bigger risks to test the waters since Lomachenko doesn't pack the knockout power he possessed at leaner territories. The Brooklynite has more room to explore and experiment to find that one fight-changing or fight-ending opening, even if it means of taking a bunch of punches and giving away rounds in the process.

The fight starts off predictably with Lomachenko deploying his superior speed and skill set to  dictate the action and land the higher volume of punches. With deft footwork, he fluidly glides in and out, peppering Lopez with combinations from every angle upstairs and down while sneaking out the side door before the bigger man can return fire. 

But Lopez gradually figures out that if he simply keeps his feet firmly planted and doesn't back off, he can inflict more hurt on Lomachencko with a single well-placed counter than Lomachencko can inflict on him with a multitude of rapid-fire shots. Midway through the sixth round, Lopez deliberately absorbs a flurry before exploding with a right cross-left hook combination that sends Lomachencko crashing heavily to the canvass. Lomachenko beats the count on spaghetti legs and survives the round by strategically circling and clinching.

Shaking off the cobwebs from his head, Lomachenko gives away the middle rounds by fighting on survival mode while, at the same time, re-sizing up his longer, stronger opponent. It is his turn to adapt and adjust and he does just that. Instead of shoe-shining Lopez with pity-patty shots, he begins sitting down on his punches, concentrating on quality rather than quantity. He potshots Lopez with right jabs and lead lefts from the outside and limits his combinations to two or three solid punches to stop the bigger man in his tracks and force him to continually reset.

Befuddled by Lomachenko's change of strategy, the inexperienced Lopez becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate. Aware that he is down on the scorecards, he taunts and challenges Lomachenko to engage in a shootout the championship rounds. But Lomachenko refuses to take the bait and cruises to a close but unanimous decision in the 115-112 range. A unified and undisputed 135-pound champion is crowned for the first time since the late great Pernell Whitaker consolidated all the belts 30 years ago.