BoxRec

Any VADA testing for this.

Well I browsed through 11 pages of posts and very few posts had any real opinions about the fight.

Lopez is the bigger, younger, heavier hitting fighter who has an enormous reach advantage. But is he someone who can use the jab to his advantage? Not really from what I've seen. He's explosive. He does have fast hands. I'd say there are questions about his stamina given the energy he puts into his punches. If this goes deep, he might be in trouble once he tires and can't keep Loma off him. Always a KO chance though.

Loma, well, he's Loma. The living Matrix. I don't see Loma making the same mistake as he made against Salido, namely, low punch output. I also don't see Lopez hitting Loma in the nuts 30 times either, Lopez will be headshotting for sure. My main worry for Loma is the youth and energy that Lopez brings. That might be enough to give Lopez a whole bunch of rounds through spectacular individual actions.

Certainly a great match-up. Lopez is definitely going to bring it. I looked at the odds and not much value for any result. I might throw some coins on a split decision. I can see the judges being all over the place here. I think Loma gets it, he's a once in a generation fighter, but I think it's going to be Loma's hardest fight yet.

conan_the_cribber wrote: ↑21 Sep 2020, 15:27 Well I browsed through 11 pages of posts and very few posts had any real opinions about the fight.

Lopez is the bigger, younger, heavier hitting fighter who has an enormous reach advantage. But is he someone who can use the jab to his advantage? Not really from what I've seen. He's explosive. He does have fast hands. I'd say there are questions about his stamina given the energy he puts into his punches. If this goes deep, he might be in trouble once he tires and can't keep Loma off him. Always a KO chance though.

Loma, well, he's Loma. The living Matrix. I don't see Loma making the same mistake as he made against Salido, namely, low punch output. I also don't see Lopez hitting Loma in the nuts 30 times either, Lopez will be headshotting for sure. My main worry for Loma is the youth and energy that Lopez brings. That might be enough to give Lopez a whole bunch of rounds through spectacular individual actions.

Certainly a great match-up. Lopez is definitely going to bring it. I looked at the odds and not much value for any result. I might throw some coins on a split decision. I can see the judges being all over the place here. I think Loma gets it, he's a once in a generation fighter, but I think it's going to be Loma's hardest fight yet.

Lopez is good, question is is it too early for him.
I like his left hook it's come along nicely, still I'd have preferred another tune up or two before this to fully strengthen it, but the fights on so he's got from now till then to fine tune it the best he can.
I feel Lopez has the tank to take the fight to a decision, however another question I ask myself is will Lopez be able to proportion out his energy throughout the contest to stay in it and avoid fading at the crucial moments.
Lomachenko is a boxing genius, he really is a gifted smart boxer man, he uses his legs and upper and lower body angles to create so many openings, he knows all the rally cycles and is extremely fit and driven, he's going to be hard to beat.
It's likely going to take a career defining effort to oust Lomachenko at this point, but Lopez is fortunate enough to be at that stage in his career where he could actually pull it off.
Can't wait to see the fight.

Press Release | Undercard Information

The most anticipated fight of the fall — the Oct. 17 lightweight unification showdown between WBC Franchise/WBA/WBO world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko and IBF kingpin Teofimo Lopez from the MGM Grand Las Vegas “Bubble”— now has a two-course televised appetizer befitting the occasion.

In the 10-round junior welterweight co-feature, former world title challenger Alex Saucedo will fight unbeaten contender Arnold Barboza Jr.

The televised opener will see super middleweight knockout sensation Edgar Berlanga test his perfect record against veteran Lanell Bellows in an eight-rounder. Berlanga (14-0, 14 KOs) has won all 14 of his professional fights by first-round stoppage.

Lomachenko-Lopez, Saucedo-Barboza and Berlanga-Bellows will be televised live on ESPN & ESPN Deportes beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

“Lomachenko-Lopez promises to be a classic, and the rest of the ESPN-televised card will set the table,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Barboza and Saucedo are players in the deep junior welterweight division, and both men are ferocious competitors. The winner is ready to challenge for a world title. As for Edgar Berlanga, every time he steps in the ring, he impresses me more and more. I haven’t seen a young puncher like him in quite some time.”

Saucedo (30-1, 19 KOs), the thunderous slugger from Oklahoma City, has won a pair of fights since falling short to Maurice Hooker in a November 2018 bid for the WBO junior welterweight world title. He is entering his third bout with head trainer Pedro Neme, a union that has paid dividends thus far. Saucedo knocked out Rod Salka in the first round last November and made his “Bubble” debut June 30 with a one-sided decision over Sonny Fredrickson.

Barboza (24-0, 10 KOs), from South El Monte, Calif., is a seven-year pro who is ranked in the top 10 by the WBO and WBC at 140 pounds. He graduated from prospect to contender with victories over the likes of Mike Reed, Mike Alvarado and William Silva. He last fought Aug. 29 as the co-feature to the Jose Ramirez-Viktor Postol junior welterweight world title bout and cruised to a one-sided decision over Canadian veteran Tony Luis.

“Arnold is a very versatile fighter, so we are preparing for everything,” Saucedo said. “I know it will be hard to steal the show from Lomachenko-Lopez, but I’m coming in to put on a memorable fight for the fans. I feel like people still doubt me from the Maurice Hooker fight, and I can’t wait to show everyone all of my tools.”

“This fight, and fighting on such a significant card, means the world to me,” Barboza said. “It’s time to put the 140-pound division on notice. I respect Saucedo, but he’s in my way as I strive to earn a world title opportunity.”

Berlanga has combined flash with unique power to earn headlines despite not having seen the second round as a pro. The record for consecutive first-round knockouts to begin a career is 21, held by the late Ali Raymi. Berlanga made his “Bubble” debut on July 21 and stopped Eric Moon in 62 seconds, which equaled the fifth-shortest outing of his career. Bellows (20-5-3, 13 KOs) has never been stopped as a pro and has made his bones testing young prospects. He is coming off a fourth-round stoppage over Malcolm Jones, who entered the fight with a 15-1 record.

“I’m dedicating this fight to my family and Puerto Rico. I want to continue to shine like a bright star and carry the flag on my back,” Berlanga said. “Bellows has never been stopped, but I intend to be the first man to stop him. He’s a strong fighter, and I hope to get some rounds in. I want to show that I’m a versatile boxer and not just a puncher. One thing I will guarantee is another explosive performance.”

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 Sep 2020, 10:37

He's right. She gave him too much credit. Khan has some kind of magic but Loma has the lot.

As for his advice of Lopez fighting Loma at his own game, well that's not going to happen.

Lopez doesn't have half of Khan's speed.

Lomachenko v Khan, if only it were possible, would be high adrenaline stuff of the highest calibre.

A Limited Number Of Fans Will be Permitted To Attend Lomachenko – Lopez Fight

We’ll never know how many tickets the upcoming October 17 lightweight unification showdown between Vasyl Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez would have shifted had things been any way normal, with fight fans allowed to attend a fight; but chances are the tickets would have moved in big numbers; this fight one that has really got fight fans excited and intrigued.

There is, however, a little good news for fight fans. As Top Rank boss Bob Arum has explained to ESPN.com, there will be 250 people allowed to attend the fight inside the MGM “bubble” in Las Vegas – a number of these people being fans. With a new easing of Covid-19 restrictions being passed by Nevada, with 250 people now allowed to attend a live event, Arum says sponsors will be in attendance at the October 17 fight, as well as some fans: “We’re going to make it available to sponsors, and then give most of the tickets to first responders,” he said. “We’re not selling any.”

This is an admirable move by Top Rank. In putting fans first, instead of looking to charge super-duper prices for the sprinkling of tickets that are available and then aim them at the high-rollers, Arum has done something many other boxing promoters would not perhaps have been willing to do. Good on Bob! But the stampede for those few available tickets might prove to be quite something

Who the few lucky ones might be is anyone’s guess. Get moving fast if you can! For the rest of us, we’ll have to make do with catching the live action on TV. However, as Arum angrily discussed last week, thus far there is no UK broadcaster willing to buy the Lomachenko-Lopez fight. I’m sure I speak for many UK boxing fans when I say this had better change. There is still time for a UK broadcaster to do the right thing by fight fans and purchase this, very possibly The Fight of The Year.

If Arum can afford to give away tickets instead of charging up to and over a thousand bucks for them, surely a UK broadcaster can afford to buy the fight?

Admirable? Only thing he could do. Surprised none of your networks have picked it up, but arum could be asking 50 times the value of the tickets.

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑02 Oct 2020, 08:28 Admirable? Only thing he could do. Surprised none of your networks have picked it up, but arum could be asking 50 times the value of the tickets.

Yeh, only way they (UK networks) can probably pay for it, is to slap it on PPV in the UK maybe..

Lomachenko vs. Lopez Premieres Sunday @ 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

In anticipation of the Oct. 17 lightweight unification showdown between WBC Franchise/WBA/WBO world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and IBF kingpin Teofimo Lopez, ESPN will debut Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez, a two-part, behind-the-scenes look at the fighters’ camps.

Episode 1: (Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, ESPN (re-airs on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET): A visit to the respective training camps of pound-for-pound king Lomachenko in Southern California and Lopez’s in New Jersey.

The show will provide fans a peek behind the curtain of both fighters’ regimens as they prepare to battle it out in the ring.

Episode 2: debuts Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (re-airs on ESPN2 Monday, Oct 12 at 11:30 p.m. ET).

Sunday’s programming lineup will also include some of Lomachenko and Lopez’s classic fights and air across ESPN and ESPN2. Be sure to tune in to ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS starting Oct. 4 all the way through fight night for more classic Top Rank and re-airs of recent Lomachenko and Lopez events.

The Lomachenko vs. Lopez telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and airs on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The 10-round junior welterweight co-main features former world title challenger Alex Saucedo against unbeaten contender Arnold Barboza Jr.

In the eight-round ESPN-televised opener, super middleweight knockout sensation Edgar Berlanga tests his perfect record against veteran Lanell Bellows. Berlanga (14-0, 14 KOs) has won all 14 of his professional fights by first-round stoppage.

Live coverage begins with undercard action streaming live on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.


----------------------------------
Top Rank on ESPN Schedule (All Times ET)

Sunday, Oct. 4
4 p.m. Top Rank Boxing on ESPN: Best of Vasiliy Lomachenko ESPN
8:30 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 1) ESPN
9:00 p.m. Top Rank Boxing Classic Fights: Best of Teofimo Lopez ESPN
10:00 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 1; Re-air) ESPN2
10:30 p.m. Top Rank Boxing Classic Fights: Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux ESPN2
11:00 p.m. Top Rank Boxing Classic Fights: Best of Teofimo Lopez ESPN2

Sunday, Oct. 11
9:00 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 1; Re-air) ESPN
9:30 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 2) ESPN

Monday, Oct 12
11:00 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 1; Re-air) ESPN2
11:30 p.m. Blood, Sweat and Tears: Lomachenko vs. Lopez (Part 2; Re-air) ESPN2
----------------------------------

14-day pre weigh-in

Lomachenko weighed 141.4 while Lopez scaled in at 142.4.

They both have to trim down to 135 pounds by the official October 16 weigh-in.

Arum: 250 People Can Attend Loma-Lopez, Mostly First Responders From Nevada

They won’t sell out Madison Square Garden, as Bob Arum, Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko had hoped when they first began negotiating contracts.

The venue won’t be essentially empty, either, when Lomachenko and Lopez meet in a highly anticipated, lightweight title unification fight October 17. Arum announced during a virtual press conference Monday that new Nevada State Athletic Commission protocols will allow 250 people to attend the Lomachenko-Lopez card a week from Saturday night at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

Arum also revealed that tickets will not be put on sale to the general public.

The 88-year-old promoter noted that those 250 people largely will consist of first responders from Nevada who’ve worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. That group also will include a specific number of guests per fighter on that card and a few reporters.

Fans have not been allowed to assemble at a noteworthy boxing event in the United States since Arum’s Top Rank Inc. became the first promoter to start staging shows again June 9. The 250 people permitted to attend the Lomachenko-Lopez card are in addition to ESPN employees, NSAC officials and Top Rank staff that typically have been ringside for shows at MGM Grand Conference Center since June 9.

“There are no tickets available,” Arum said. “Most of the people who will be admitted, under strict protocols, will be the so-called first responders. We’re looking to reward those people in Nevada who worked in the hospitals, taking care of the COVID patients. There will be some additional seats among the 250 given to the fight camps, so they could invite people who are near and dear to them, which wouldn’t have been allowed under the way the old protocol was.

“But there will be no sales of any tickets, no high rollers, none of that stuff. And I think [Top Rank media relations director] Evan [Korn] will clarify maybe some of those seats will be available to the media – all under very, very strict monitoring protocols, which [Top Rank COO] Brad Jacobs will be distributing to everybody who wants to attend the fight.”

Arum wanted to scheduled Lomachenko-Lopez for May 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Their fight was postponed 4½ months due to the coronavirus crisis that essentially shut down the boxing business for three months.

“During this pandemic and everything, I think it’s a blessing, man, honestly, to be able to have, you know, some fans,” Lopez said Monday. “[Knowing] it’s first responders, I think that’s just something that is very [admirable] and good to know. You know, 250 people is better than no people at all, especially for this type of magnitude of a fight that we have going on. You know, had this been 2019, I think we would’ve had a better outcome. But, you know, we find ways to make it work. You know, thanks to Top Rank and ESPN, and Bob Arum himself.

“You know, we find different ways to entertain the fight fans. That’s why this fight is on cable TV [ESPN], you know, for everyone to watch and tune in. You know, and that’s the whole thing about it – you know, you don’t have to pay pay-per-view or anything for something that is – even though it could be pay-per-view. This is a pay-per-view fight, absolutely, but, you know, we think about what’s going on and the pandemic. But it’s good, man. I think it’s gonna be a great night that night, and whoever those 250 people are, they’re gonna have a treat right there.”

Ukraine’s Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Brooklyn’s Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) will fight for Lomachenko’s WBA and WBO 135-pound championships, as well as Lopez’s IBF lightweight title.

Arum Shreds Sky Sports: What They Are Doing in UK is an Absolute Disgrace!

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has launched an attack on Sky Sports for their decision to have three pay-per-view shows between now and the end of the year, accusing the network of a “money grab” and saying it was “immoral” to charge people extra to watch boxing when so many are suffering financially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The veteran promoter used a media call with Vassiliy Lomachenko – to promote his fight with Teofimo Lopez on October 17 – to lambast the UK network, contrasting the decision of ESPN to not have the Lomachenko-Lopez fight on pay-per-view, with Sky Sports, singling out the October 31 fight between Okelsandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora as not worthy of PPV.

He also credited BT Sport for their decision not to charge extra to their subscribers to see the heavyweight clash between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce, which will go ahead on November 28, despite no fans being allowed to attend. Around 15,000 tickets were reported to have been sold when that fight was originally scheduled for the O2 Arena in April.

“ESPN really are supporters of the sport and they don’t just use the sport, they support it and they are giving us the where with all to put this event on,” Arum said.

“Unlike what happens in the UK where you have one outfit like Sky Sports which just money grabs and puts everything on pay-per-view. I see BT Sport has stepped up to the plate and they are giving their subscribers without extra money Dubois and Joyce, which is an excellent heavyweight fight.

“Any fight that Eddie Hearn does, whether it is a major fight, or a minor fight, they put on pay-per-view, because Sky Sports is only apparently interested in a money grab, soak the boxing fans for whatever they can. These networks have to understand how people are hurting, how many people in this country and the UK are out of work because of this pandemic. I think it’s really immoral to require people to spend money watching their favourite sport every week, every other week. What Sky Sports is doing in the UK is an absolute disgrace. I don’t care if they never buy a fight from me. What they are doing now is a disgrace.”

Usyk-Chisora expected to be the first of three pay-per-view shows on Sky Sports before Christmas. The Alexander Povetkin-Dillian Whyte rematch will also be on pay-per-view on November 21, as will the Anthony Joshua-Kubrat Pulev fight, which has not been confirmed yet, but is expected to be on December 12.

Arum said that ESPN would show Lomachenko-Lopez, Terence Crawford-Kell Brook (on November 14) and Miguel Berchelt-Oscar Valdez (possibly on November 7) on their main network. He did not mention the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch, which is pencilled in for December 19, and would likely be on pay-per-view.

While Lomachenko-Lopez is free in the United States, UK fans will have to pay £9.99 to watch it on Fite TV.

“I like Eddie,” Arum said. “If Sky won’t give him money to do significant fights, he has no other choice but to do it on pay-per-view. I’m sure if Sky really supported boxing, put up money to see some of these fights, which are good fights, but are not pay-per-view quality. Like Usyk and Chisora, that’s a good fight, but it is not a pay-per-view fight. Why the hell isn’t Sky buying that fight to show to their subscribers, without soaking them 25 quid?

“It’s wrong, there is a point a time, particularly now, with what everyone is going through, that these networks have to understand that there is a time for them to give back. That is what ESPN has done, that is why everybody in America can watch Lomachenko-Lopez without spending five cents.

“And that’s all credit to ESPN. They are doing it not just for this fight, but for the rest of the year.”

Arum On Loma-Lopez: I Don't Believe In Rematch Clauses; Overused By Hearn

Whoever wins when Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez fight won’t owe the loser a rematch.

Lopez revealed last month that there isn’t a rematch clause in the contracts for their highly anticipated, 12-round lightweight title unification fight October 17 at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas (ESPN). Rematch clauses aren’t uncommon demands for established, favored champions that take on optional opponents, in this case Lomachenko.

Bob Arum, whose company promotes Lomachenko and Lopez, fundamentally opposed placing a rematch clause in their contracts. Arum claimed during a virtual press conference Tuesday that if their fight warrants a return encounter, Ukraine’s Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Brooklyn’s Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) eventually will agree to do it.

The 88-year-old Arum also criticized rival promoter Eddie Hearn for insisting on inserting rematch clauses in contracts when his favored fighters face optional opponents.

“I don’t believe in rematch clauses,” Arum said. “Rematch clauses are, in essence, overused thanks to our friend, Eddie Hearn. He puts a rematch clause in every contract, and that may indicate that he is not confident in how his fighter will perform. As far as I’m concerned, let them fight. There’ll be a winner, there’ll be a loser, and if down the road they want a rematch, that’s up to them. But I’m not requiring [it], and I don’t like to require a rematch in any contract that I do.”

It made sound business sense, of course, for Hearn to ensure that then-unbeaten superstar Anthony Joshua was guaranteed a second fight against Andy Ruiz Jr. in the event Ruiz upset him. England’s Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) won back his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in his immediate rematch with Ruiz (33-2, 22 KOs), who Joshua beat by unanimous decision six months after Ruiz pulled off one of the most noteworthy upsets in boxing history when he stopped the heavily favored Joshua in the seventh round of their June 2019 fight at Madison Square Garden in New York.

A rematch clause also will afford Dillian Whyte, another British heavyweight Hearn’s company promotes, an immediate opportunity to avenge his fifth-round knockout loss to Alexander Povetkin on August 22 in Brentwood, England. London’s Whyte (27-2, 18 KOs) and Russia’s Povetkin (36-2-1, 25 KOs) already are scheduled to fight again for the WBC interim title November 21 at an undetermined location in England.

I must admit. Im hyped for this one

Thomastearns wrote: ↑25 Sep 2020, 11:36

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 Sep 2020, 10:37

He's right. She gave him too much credit. Khan has some kind of magic but Loma has the lot.

As for his advice of Lopez fighting Loma at his own game, well that's not going to happen.

Lopez doesn't have half of Khan's speed.

Lomachenko v Khan, if only it were possible, would be high adrenaline stuff of the highest calibre.

What on earth did fraud Khan ever have?

atg hand speed, unified champ, a really good win in one of my fave fights in recent years (maidana)

not an elite fighter but no fraud at all, very entertaining career where he pushed himself fully too

More Undercard Bouts Announced

The breakout star of the Bubble, “Cassius” Clay Collard, is back for more.

Collard, the MMA pro-turned contender for 2020 “Boxing Prospect of the Year,” will fight Quincy LaVallais in an eight-round middleweight bout on the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez undercard on Saturday, Oct. 17 from the MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center. It is a rematch of their June 2019 fight, which was ruled a draw.

Collard-LaVallais 2 and additional undercard bouts, including a 10-round junior welterweight clash between top prospect Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas and Kendo Castaneda, will stream live on ESPN+ at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Lomachenko-Lopez world championship main event, the 10-round junior welterweight battle between Alex Saucedo and Arnold Barboza Jr., and an eight-round super middleweight tilt featuring knockout king Edgar Berlanga against Lanell Bellows will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10 p.m. ET.

“A marquee main event deserves marquee supporting fights, and we have an incredible lineup in store underneath Lomachenko-Lopez,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Vargas can graduate to contender with a win over Castaneda, and Clay Collard is back to once again put on a show. Tune in early to ESPN+ to kick off an incredible night of boxing.”

Collard (9-2-3, 4 KOs), who is 5-0 with 3 knockouts in 2020, began the year with three victories over previously undefeated prospects. In January, he toppled the 9-0 Quashawn Toler by unanimous decision in Toler’s hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The following month, he knocked out the 5-0 Raymond Guajardo in the second round of a bout that saw both men hit the canvas. He made his Bubble debut June 18 and battered the 6-0 David Kaminsky en route to a split decision nod. Collard has notched knockouts in his last two Bubble bouts and returns against LaVallais (9-0-1, 5 KOs), a native of Kenner, La. Collard and LaVallais fought in New Orleans, and LaVallais escaped with the draw. LaVallais has won two fights since, both by first-round stoppage.

"I'm a born fighter, and I'm grateful to be back on such a significant card," Collard said. "When Quincy and I fought the first time, I knew I'd done enough to win, but we were in his hometown. We're fighting on neutral ground this time."

Vargas (17-1, 9 KOs), and his teeth, made an impression in his last bout. Vargas lost a veneer, but still managed to nearly shut out Salvador Briceno over 10 rounds in an ESPN-televised co-feature. He has won 11 consecutive fights and takes a step up against Castaneda (17-2, 8 KOs), a San Antonio-born boxer-puncher coming of a competitive decision loss in July to Jose “Chon” Zepeda.

In other undercard bouts scheduled for ESPN+:

Jose Enrique Vivas (19-1, 10 KOs) vs. John Vincent Moralde (23-3, 13 KOs)
8 Rounds, Featherweight

Vivas’ last fight was one of the best of 2020, a 10-round war against Carlos Jackson that took place July 2 inside the Bubble. Vivas and his hellacious body attack earned him the unanimous decision nod. Moralde, a top Filipino contender, is 3-1 since a September 2018 decision loss to Jamel Herring at junior lightweight.

Quinton Randall (6-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jan Carlos Rivera (4-0, 4 KOs)
6 Rounds, Welterweight

Former USA Boxing amateur star Randall takes a step up in class against Rivera, a Puerto Rican knockout puncher who has yet to see the third round as a professional. Randall, from Houston, Texas, defeated Clay Collard via unanimous decision in June 2019.

Jahi Tucker (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Charles Garner (1-0)
4 Rounds, Welterweight

The 17-year-old Tucker, who signed with Top Rank earlier this year, made his professional debut Sept. 19 and scored a first-round stoppage over Deandre Anderson.

Hearn did numerous interviews in rebuttal to Arum while in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. His strongest response to Arum came while talking to iFL TV.

“Bob says whatever suits Bob at the time,” said Hearn to iFL. “Bob’s sulking because he couldn’t find a customer. That’s basically what happened. On the one hand, Bob says Sky does too many pay-per-views, and blah, blah, blah, and he pitched to Sky, Terence Crawford vs. Kell Brook on pay-per-view. So on one hand, he’s accusing these people of doing too many pay-per-views, but on the other hand, he’s trying to sell them a pay-per-view. I don’t really understand that. So I rejected that fight, and he was pissed off.”

From Hearn’s perspective, Arum is disgruntled that he couldn’t make a deal with Sky Sports on two fights, including Lomachenko vs. Lopez. Hearn also said he made Arum and offer for Lomachenko vs. Lopez to appear on Sky Sports, but Arum “didn’t think it was a very good offer.”

Hearn admitted that Lomachenko vs. Lopez is a great fight, but it’s not that marketable in the U.K. because it would air at 4 a.m. BST. He’s got a point there.

Who’s in the right, Arum or Hearn? It all depends on your perspective, but the theater of drama between Arum and Hearn makes for good promotion and further hypes Lomachenko vs. Lopez, although it doesn’t need it. Lomachenko vs. Lopez is one of the best matchups of 2020.

Finally...

It is

Fight Week!

Loma a 4:1 favorite

It’s finally fight week for the lightweight superfight between Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday night. And no, it’s not on pay-per-view. You can see it live on ESPN. Loma is currently a -440 favorite. Lopez backers can get +350.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 11:38 Loma a 4:1 favorite

It’s finally fight week for the lightweight superfight between Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Teofimo Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday night. And no, it’s not on pay-per-view. You can see it live on ESPN. Loma is currently a -440 favorite. Lopez backers can get +350.

I hope Lopez get the points

“Two years ago I told people that we were going to take Lomachenko’s head off, because he is a lying champion,” Lopez Sr. said, via Boxing Scene. “He has never faced a fighter like my son. We come very hungry … In March or April of 2020, we will end Lomachenko and we will end him in less than five rounds. … And if he beats Lomachenko, he can be considered the No. 1 pound per pound in the world. We are going to do it.”


Lopez snr. seemed to be confident last December. I wonder how he feels now?

I still expect Lopez to be on the end of the best boxing lesson since Dave 'Boy' Green faced off against Sugar Ray Leonard.

As Lopez won't be planning to outbox Loma this could be a real cracker.

Thomastearns wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 15:59 “Two years ago I told people that we were going to take Lomachenko’s head off, because he is a lying champion,” Lopez Sr. said, via Boxing Scene. “He has never faced a fighter like my son. We come very hungry … In March or April of 2020, we will end Lomachenko and we will end him in less than five rounds. … And if he beats Lomachenko, he can be considered the No. 1 pound per pound in the world. We are going to do it.”


Lopez snr. seemed to be confident last December. I wonder how he feels now?

I still expect Lopez to be on the end of the best boxing lesson since Dave 'Boy' Green faced off against Sugar Ray Leonard.

As Lopez won't be planning to outbox Loma this could be a real cracker.

Not sure it will last as long as Leonard-Green. A couple of years from now this would be a competitive fight maybe

If Loma doesn't get injured, that will be another beautiful lesson of boxing