Vasyl Lomachenko wants a world title in his 3rd pro fight !

[jessi]

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Two-time gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko is ready to begin his pro boxing career, and he intends to wear a world title belt next year.
The Ukrainian Olympic star has signed a multiyear deal with Top Rank, Bob Arum's promotional company announced Friday.
Lomachenko will make his pro debut Oct. 12, and he expects to fight for a world championship by his third pro bout. Not many amateur fighters could make such an audacious plan for their future, but no amateur in recent history can match Lomachenko's achievements and potential.
''I am very excited and happy with Top Rank's offer and signing the contract,'' Lomachenko said. ''I know I will have to prove I am the best and make history in pro boxing, but I have no doubts about it, as I did in the amateurs and I will do as a pro.''
Lomachenko is widely considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of the past several decades. He won Olympic gold medals with unbeaten runs in Beijing and London, also claiming two world championships in between while dominating opponents with an athletic, aggressive style that should make him a nightmare for the world's top featherweights.
The 25-year-old is scheduled to make his pro debut against a still-to-be-determined opponent on the undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez's HBO pay-per-view welterweight bout against unbeaten Timothy Bradley at Las Vegas' Thomas and Mack Center.
''Bob Arum knows how to build champions, and I know how to fight,'' said Lomachenko, who will start his career at 126 pounds. ''This will make a good team. I am happy finally it's all over, all negotiations are done, and I can concentrate on my training and start preparing for my first fight.''
Lomachenko had specific goals for his pro career when he interviewed several promoters last month, and Top Rank should have the promotional clout to get him the quick title fight he seeks. If Lomachenko's pro fights are as entertaining as his amateur bouts, Top Rank also should have little trouble enticing HBO or other networks to feature him.
''Lomachenko is an exciting venture for Top Rank,'' said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. ''He is taking one of the most aggressive career tacts I have ever seen in making his professional debut in a 10-round fight with his goal to fight - and win - a world title by his third professional fight. Top Rank is 100 percent onboard with his plan. We believe in Lomachenko.''
Most fighters begin their pro careers in four-round bouts before moving up gradually to 10- and 12-round contests. Not Lomachenko, who plans to test his vaunted amateur record and world-class skills in difficult fights from the start - just the way Olympic stars used to do it before amateur boxing lost much of its allure over the past two decades.
''Because of his tremendous amateur accomplishments, he is not your typical boxer turning pro,'' said Carl Moretti, Top Rank's vice president of boxing operations. ''He reminds me of the Olympians from the '76 and '84 (American) teams, like (Sugar Ray) Leonard, (Leon and Michael) Spinks, (Evander) Holyfield, (Pernell) Whitaker, (Mark) Breland. They were ready to face established pros from Day One.''
Last year, Lomachenko considered starting his career with APB, the professional arm of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), but ultimately decided to move to North America with the backing of an elite promoter. Lomachenko is expected to train in Los Angeles, where fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming of China began his pro career this year.
Top Rank also signed Oleksandr Usyk, the Olympic heavyweight gold medalist in London. Lomachenko and Usyk, who will begin his pro career as a cruiserweight, are close friends and training partners.
Lomachenko has been the biggest name in amateur boxing for a half-decade, but Top Rank has signed a prime selection of the most talented Olympic boxers from the London Games. Along with Zou, Top Rank also promotes Puerto Rico's Felix Verdejo, Mexico's Oscar Valdez and American lightweight Jose Ramirez, who nearly beat Lomachenko at the 2011 world championships.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/bo ... o/2591421/

[ShadrachSimmo]

3rd pro fight get him in with Mares I'm sure he'll win

[whiskey]

Mares = GBP

Loma = TR

[winkveron]

How wise is this agressive fast-tracking? There have been loads of other accomplished pro's who have taken it steadily.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Mares = GBP

Loma = TR

Bang there goes another dream

[lefty]

How wise is this agressive fast-tracking? There have been loads of other accomplished pro's who have taken it steadily.

Yeah but he wants to achieve an impressive feat obviously.

[lillywhite14]

He could win a title as early as he wants to

[reggaereggae]

Lomachenko has also had 6 WSB fights I think. Those are like pro fights but with a much better quality opponent compared to most pros first 15 fights

[sweetscience]

I'd love to see him against Ricky burns on his 2nd/3rd fight

I'd be really interested in how it would pan out...

[expe]

I'd love to see him against Ricky burns on his 2nd/3rd fight

I'd be really interested in how it would pan out...

He's a featherweight.

[sweetscience]

He was lightweight in ams.... 9st 9

[lillywhite14]

Lomachenko has also had 6 WSB fights I think. Those are like pro fights but with a much better quality opponent compared to most pros first 15 fights

Yep. Fighters of his calibre and amateur experience don't really need too much of a pro apprenticeship anyway. Chuck in the WSB fights and he is more than ready to achieve what he wants to.

[expe]

He was lightweight in ams.... 9st 9

Lightweight's 9st 6lbs in the amateurs and that's with on the day weigh ins, he's listed on the schedule to be fighting at featherweight.

[jessi]

I think they want him to be a multi weight champ so there going to start him off as low as possible, he must struggle a little to make feather, his really filled out since beijing !

[WelshJack]

No matter what the money or background of the guy there is no chance after 2 fights a world champion will step in the ring with him.

[iamasadlittleboy]

No matter what the money or background of the guy there is no chance after 2 fights a world champion will step in the ring with him.

Perico Fernandez stepped in against Muangsurin who was having his 3rd contest.

In fact Floyd Patterson took on Pete Radamacher who was making his debut and of course Hyun-Mi Choi won a world title in their debut.

[crusader]

No matter what the money or background of the guy there is no chance after 2 fights a world champion will step in the ring with him.

Perico Fernandez stepped in against Muangsurin who was having his 3rd contest.

In fact Floyd Patterson took on Pete Radamacher who was making his debut and of course Hyun-Mi Choi won a world title in their debut.

And she did so against a 1-0 opponent. That is women's professional boxing for you.

[andeeholden]

I was lucky enough to see Lomachenko fight in the Olympics in London; what a talent. Although it's a big ambition, he is head and shoulders above any other amateur debutant around at the moment. No point hanging around when you're as good as he is.

[SamWise72]

It didn't work out that well for Rademacher, and whilst Leon Spinks beat Ali in his 7th pro fight, his career derailed badly after that. I wouldn't say it's impossible, and I'll be watching with great interest, but it's a tall order indeed!

[danconnollyeire]

Lomachenko has also had 6 WSB fights I think. Those are like pro fights but with a much better quality opponent compared to most pros first 15 fights

Yep, it would be like, for example, after the 2008 Olympics Price, Fury, Chisora all fighting each other, which only happens after 5ish pro years... or never

[pablothunder]

His first fight is supposed to be a ten rounder.
Like said above, i can't imagine any title holders wanting to risk their rep on a 2-0 fighter, but if Bob Arum is on board there must be sufficient money around, and it is just the kind of thing to catch the imagination of the wider public.

[lillywhite14]

It's not a case of risking their rep against a 2-0 fighter though.

We are talking about one of the all time great amateur fighters here.

[Wales]

Flip the argument on its head. A champion might think "youre going to pay me what to fight a 2-0 fighter...? Im' in"

Money talks.

[pablothunder]

Good points. He is already a worthy name and fighting him sooner can only be better than fighting him later. And it's sellable already, a can't fail money spinner. I'm converted.

[winkveron]

What names do you think he could go in with then in his first couple of fights?