Vasiliy Lomachenko Opens Up On Teofimo Lopez Loss: “It’s About Being Bribed, There Was Nothing About Honest Judging”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Vasiliy Lomachenko Opens Up On Teofimo Lopez Loss: “It’s About Being Bribed, There Was Nothing About Honest Judging”

After having time to dissect his unanimous decision loss at the hands of Teofimo Lopez roughly two months ago, former three-division world titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko is screaming robbery.

“If we counted strictly by the book, the scorecards would be different,” said Lomachenko on his social media page.

Lomachenko, 32, walked into his undisputed lightweight contest against Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) as a decided favorite. From the moment the bell rang, the 23-year-old Lopez came straight ahead. Lomachenko though, took more of a defensive stance during the opening frame. What was thought to be a feel out round for the Ukrainian, turned into a passive effort during the first half of their contest.

While Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) remained patient early on, connecting on 25 of his 58 total punches, Lopez continued to bank rounds as he scored on 53 of his 239 first-half shots. Falling behind on the judge’s scorecards is something that Lomachenko agrees with but after watching the tape closely, he believes he did more than enough in the second half.

“I took one round for the first half of the fight and five rounds for the second one, namely rounds 7-11. We’ve got 6-6 which is a draw. If it’s a draw we use the unspoken rule of boxing, we look for rounds 10-12. I won two of them. It’s two to one.”

The numbers for Lomachenko did in fact spike up during the second half as he tagged Lopez with 116 shots while throwing 263. With that being said, the change in his aggression still fell short when compared to his younger opponent. Lopez eked by Lomachenko in terms of punches landed with 130 and he nearly doubled him up in the second half with 420 total punches thrown.

Lopez seemed to punctuate his performance in the final round as he landed 50 total shots on Lomachenko, a career-high for punches landed on the Ukrainian native.

Still, most pundits are in agreement that Lomachenko did in fact win the second half of their contest. However, the hole he dug during the first half proved to be too much as Lopez went on to become the youngest undisputed world champion in boxing history.

Bad judging is something that Lomachenko can reluctantly live with. Nevertheless, the former two time Olympic gold medalist doesn’t believe the judges accidentally handed in bad scorecards. In this case, Lomachenko assumes that there could have been money exchanged underneath the table.

“They knew that the possibility of a knockout from my side was around 20%. What does it say? It’s about being bribed. There was nothing about honest judging.”

[margaret thatcher]

[margaret thatcher]

“I took one round for the first half of the fight and five rounds for the second one, namely rounds 7-11. We’ve got 6-6 which is a draw. If it’s a draw we use the unspoken rule of boxing, we look for rounds 10-12. I won two of them. It’s two to one.”

lol....the unspoken rule of boxing

[cormack]

bollox

lopez battered him

[Puncher7]

“I took one round for the first half of the fight and five rounds for the second one, namely rounds 7-11. We’ve got 6-6 which is a draw. If it’s a draw we use the unspoken rule of boxing, we look for rounds 10-12. I won two of them. It’s two to one.”

lol....the unspoken rule of boxing

I'm hoping this was just translated wrong or bad english from loma..... If it's a draw then it's a draw..... simple math. doesnt matter which rounds were won by who

[Enlightened-One]

[NateJR]

Well this is a bad look. Loma always came off as a arrogant prick and now he's coming off as a sore loser.

Love how these europeans always get the good guy treatment because of their broken english. Everyone thinks they're these innocent, upstanding people, until they lose and their true colors come out.

Same goes for Pacquiao, his broken english almost makes him come off as a innocent child. In reality he's just as big of a ass as the next guy.

[Cent0089]

Bribed judges or not, you lost fight because you fought like an idiot

[margaret thatcher]

Well this is a bad look. Loma always came off as a arrogant prick and now he's coming off as a sore loser.

Love how these europeans always get the good guy treatment because of their broken english. Everyone thinks they're these innocent, upstanding people, until they lose and their true colors come out.

Same goes for Pacquiao, his broken english almost makes him come off as a innocent child. In reality he's just as big of a ass as the next guy.

ya dirty foreigners, theyre fooling people big time

[Thomastearns]

Another talented eastern European boxer who gets his eyes opened to how professional boxing is run.

Loma should have known what he was up against. Las Vegas, MGM Grand plus Top Rank's new cash cow.

Did he really need it spelling out?

He had to win big, and most of us thought he would. Unfortunately he didn't, and it was close.

Close would always mean Lopez. The same way it would mean Crawford, would mean Canelo, would mean Joshua (though perhaps not against Fury - that's a double A side).

This is how the high rolling boxing cattle trade works. Always the favoured A side, until they're approaching their sell-by date and are ready to be put out to slaughter against a younger fresher cash cow.

This is how professional boxing is run. Can it be any surprise to anyone that Adalaide Byrde is still up to her old tricks? Bob Bennett must be either blind himself or crooked to his gills.

Dubois vs Joyce was a fine recent example of how boxing is not run. All the better for it.

Credit to all those responsible.

[gregregegg]

“I took one round for the first half of the fight and five rounds for the second one, namely rounds 7-11. We’ve got 6-6 which is a draw. If it’s a draw we use the unspoken rule of boxing, we look for rounds 10-12. I won two of them. It’s two to one.”

lol....the unspoken rule of boxing

It’s So unspoken it’s never being said...

[Finkel]

Another talented eastern European boxer who gets his eyes opened to how professional boxing is run.

Loma should have known what he was up against. Las Vegas, MGM Grand plus Top Rank's new cash cow.

Did he really need it spelling out?

He had to win big, and most of us thought he would. Unfortunately he didn't, and it was close.

Close would always mean Lopez. The same way it would mean Crawford, would mean Canelo, would mean Joshua (though perhaps not against Fury - that's a double A side).

This is how the high rolling boxing cattle trade works. Always the favoured A side, until they're approaching their sell-by date and are ready to be put out to slaughter against a younger fresher cash cow.

This is how professional boxing is run. Can it be any surprise to anyone that Adalaide Byrde is still up to her old tricks? Bob Bennett must be either blind himself or crooked to his gills.

Dubois vs Joyce was a fine recent example of how boxing is not run. All the better for it.

Credit to all those responsible.

Great summary.

Although there were signs that this could potentially be an orchestrated passing of the torch to Teo by Arum unbeknownst to Loma, I do feel it is more hindsight telling us that it was obvious Loma had to win big not to get robbed on the cards.

Though kind of unrelated. Dubois definitely also had the judges on his side in that fight. So I was a little confused by your last point in bringing that fight up. But it is a good example of how to correctly execute the game plan of drowning a younger (popular) fighter which Loma failed at miserably.

Arguing for a 6-6 draw, means you are likely the loser across three score cards. Even with clearly bought judging, just a weird thing to come out with.

[Enlightened-One]

Another talented eastern European boxer who gets his eyes opened to how professional boxing is run.

Loma should have known what he was up against. Las Vegas, MGM Grand plus Top Rank's new cash cow.

Did he really need it spelling out?

He had to win big, and most of us thought he would. Unfortunately he didn't, and it was close.

Close would always mean Lopez. The same way it would mean Crawford, would mean Canelo, would mean Joshua (though perhaps not against Fury - that's a double A side).

This is how the high rolling boxing cattle trade works. Always the favoured A side, until they're approaching their sell-by date and are ready to be put out to slaughter against a younger fresher cash cow.

This is how professional boxing is run. Can it be any surprise to anyone that Adalaide Byrde is still up to her old tricks? Bob Bennett must be either blind himself or crooked to his gills.

There’s no need to pretend that reality didn’t happen.

There’s no conspiracy theory.

No corruption.

No robbery.

Lomachenko lost.

It’s as simple as that!!!

End of thread.

[Finkel]

I skimmed that article first read through. Something wasn't sitting right with me about that article from boxinginsider:

Vasiliy Lomachenko Opens Up On Teofimo Lopez Loss: “It’s About Being Bribed, There Was Nothing About Honest Judging”

After having time to dissect his unanimous decision loss at the hands of Teofimo Lopez roughly two months ago, former three-division world titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko is screaming robbery.

“If we counted strictly by the book, the scorecards would be different,” said Lomachenko on his social media page.

...

Bad judging is something that Lomachenko can reluctantly live with. Nevertheless, the former two time Olympic gold medalist doesn’t believe the judges accidentally handed in bad scorecards. In this case, Lomachenko assumes that there could have been money exchanged underneath the table.

“They knew that the possibility of a knockout from my side was around 20%. What does it say? It’s about being bribed. There was nothing about honest judging.”

I kind of feel the writer is pushing their own narrative here by putting such a leading phrase at the end of the first paragraph...

It really doesnt sound like he is screaming robbery in the sense that he felt he clearly won the fight, and should have been declared the winner.

It sounds like he is arguing that score cards were clearly crooked. Which they were to be fair to him.

[squiggy]

Yeah, the even card he's suggesting is better than 2 of the 3 official cards were.

[Onetimeonly]

Lol, what an annoying little fella.

[Evander]

Should be talking up a rematch in Brooklyn this coming summer.
Lopez beat him clean first time around.

[Puncher7]

I skimmed that article first read through. Something wasn't sitting right with me about that article from boxinginsider:

Vasiliy Lomachenko Opens Up On Teofimo Lopez Loss: “It’s About Being Bribed, There Was Nothing About Honest Judging”

After having time to dissect his unanimous decision loss at the hands of Teofimo Lopez roughly two months ago, former three-division world titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko is screaming robbery.

“If we counted strictly by the book, the scorecards would be different,” said Lomachenko on his social media page.

...

Bad judging is something that Lomachenko can reluctantly live with. Nevertheless, the former two time Olympic gold medalist doesn’t believe the judges accidentally handed in bad scorecards. In this case, Lomachenko assumes that there could have been money exchanged underneath the table.

“They knew that the possibility of a knockout from my side was around 20%. What does it say? It’s about being bribed. There was nothing about honest judging.”

I kind of feel the writer is pushing their own narrative here by putting such a leading phrase at the end of the first paragraph...

It really doesnt sound like he is screaming robbery in the sense that he felt he clearly won the fight, and should have been declared the winner.

It sounds like he is arguing that score cards were clearly crooked. Which they were to be fair to him.

Were the cards really that off though? I get that most of the boxing public respected lomachenko but I feel that they were giving some of the rounds to him because they respect his skills. You have to land punches to win rounds. Loma was doing his usual razzle dazzle and using beautiful angles with the feet like he usually does. But he wasnt capitalizing off of said angles and foot movement by landing or throwing punches. Especially in the early rounds. I felt that while loma didnt get "beat up" a lot of rounds he still lost the majority(at least 8 rounds).. of the rounds by not punching. Even if he didnt get beat up or touched a lot in some rounds and it appeared close - there were multiple rounds where he threw less than 10 punches. Thats basically giving the round away. No way you can throw so few punches and be justified in crying robbery. Especially when the few punches you did throw didnt hurt your opponent.

I was rooting for Loma but I was having a hard time finding rounds to give to him. Given the aftermath of the fight I think I am guilty of believing that he was more humble and innocent than he really is due to language barriers as previous posters have stated. The whining and excuses are never a good look. Maybe he felt teo's power. Or maybe he respected him too much. IDK. If he would've opened up more like he did a few times in the later round we all would have gotten a better fight though.

[Finkel]

Yeah they were that off.
11-1
Ridiculous

9-3
Stretching it

Don't get me wrong, looking to make best case for Loma was a draw. I couldn't see a win for him. But look at those cards...

p.s. Lopez won

Edit:

Can I just add, I don't want to turn this into a thread where I'm arguing that I think Lomachenko should have won. I definitely do not. Lopez won cleanly. He deserves the plaudits.

I was just saying I think the writer of the article was putting his own spin on what the quotes were suggesting, which was a bit out of order.

Anyway, I'm half cut. Been drinking since Smith's loss, so I'll leave it there. Cheers

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yeh, the scorecards where crap. Didn’t tell the true story of the fight. But the right man won.

Teo won a slightly close but clear decision.

[Thomastearns]

Another talented eastern European boxer who gets his eyes opened to how professional boxing is run.

Loma should have known what he was up against. Las Vegas, MGM Grand plus Top Rank's new cash cow.

Did he really need it spelling out?

He had to win big, and most of us thought he would. Unfortunately he didn't, and it was close.

Close would always mean Lopez. The same way it would mean Crawford, would mean Canelo, would mean Joshua (though perhaps not against Fury - that's a double A side).

This is how the high rolling boxing cattle trade works. Always the favoured A side, until they're approaching their sell-by date and are ready to be put out to slaughter against a younger fresher cash cow.

This is how professional boxing is run. Can it be any surprise to anyone that Adalaide Byrde is still up to her old tricks? Bob Bennett must be either blind himself or crooked to his gills.

Dubois vs Joyce was a fine recent example of how boxing is not run. All the better for it.

Credit to all those responsible.

Great summary.

Although there were signs that this could potentially be an orchestrated passing of the torch to Teo by Arum unbeknownst to Loma, I do feel it is more hindsight telling us that it was obvious Loma had to win big not to get robbed on the cards.

Though kind of unrelated. Dubois definitely also had the judges on his side in that fight. So I was a little confused by your last point in bringing that fight up. But it is a good example of how to correctly execute the game plan of drowning a younger (popular) fighter which Loma failed at miserably.

Arguing for a 6-6 draw, means you are likely the loser across three score cards. Even with clearly bought judging, just a weird thing to come out with.

Yes, you're right. Thank you for your correction.

Even the recent 50/50 Dubois v Joyce was not exempt from suspicions.

I overlooked the fact that just because the better boxer won, that was no excuse for bad/corrupt judging that was going on that night. I should have had a closer look at the cards and what the judges were trying to do.

That's where the dog is usually buried.

Heavyweight boxing probably relies the least upon judges scorecards, and therefore is likely to be the less corrupt when it comes to big money (and belt) transfers, err I mean fights. But that won't be down to the sport, only the skill of the boxers.

Well done again to Joe Joyce for defeating both Daniel Dubois and the judges!


As I said, thanks for the correction, I must pay better attention in the future. Boxing is only a simple sport on its surface.

As Frank Bruno might have put it, boxing is full of 'cagey customers'.

[NateJR]

Well this is a bad look. Loma always came off as a arrogant prick and now he's coming off as a sore loser.

Love how these europeans always get the good guy treatment because of their broken english. Everyone thinks they're these innocent, upstanding people, until they lose and their true colors come out.

Same goes for Pacquiao, his broken english almost makes him come off as a innocent child. In reality he's just as big of a ass as the next guy.

ya dirty foreigners, theyre fooling people big time

They don't properly express themselves outside of their native language. It makes it hard to guage their real personality.

I remember when Kovalev was looked at through rose colored glasses by the masses. Eventually his true colors came to surface, especially after his 2nd loss to Ward.

Loma is no exception. He a arrogant, cocky prick. What Teo was saying about him has been proven true.

[Perseus]

A boxer that was clearly defeated refusing to accept reality

First time that's happened...

[Puncher7]

Yeah they were that off.
11-1
Ridiculous

9-3
Stretching it

Don't get me wrong, looking to make best case for Loma was a draw. I couldn't see a win for him. But look at those cards...

p.s. Lopez won

Edit:

Can I just add, I don't want to turn this into a thread where I'm arguing that I think Lomachenko should have won. I definitely do not. Lopez won cleanly. He deserves the plaudits.

I was just saying I think the writer of the article was putting his own spin on what the quotes were suggesting, which was a bit out of order.

Anyway, I'm half cut. Been drinking since Smith's loss, so I'll leave it there. Cheers

I thought 9-3 was about right personally. With 2 of those rounds from what I recall being pretty close.
Had Loma opened up more and actually won rounds that weren't questionable would they still have gave them to Teo? Maybe - who knows. We all know boxing is shady and other times incompetent unfortunately.... But you have to actually win rounds unquestionably before crying about the corruption makes sense to your fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Lopez: Lomachenko's Statements Just Show What Kind Of Person He Really Is

Teofimo Lopez laughed when he was jokingly asked why he squandered so much of his purse to bribe the judges before his career-defining fight versus Vasiliy Lomachenko.

All kidding aside, Lopez considers the controversial comments Lomachenko made recently “sad,” not funny. Lopez expected excuses from the former three-division champion once Lopez upset him October 17, but he didn’t think Lomachenko would claim that the judges were bribed to favor Lopez prior to their 12-round, 135-pound title unification fight at MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas.

“I knew that he was probably gonna come up with an excuse of an injury, or something like that,” Lopez told Boxing Scene. early Sunday morning at Alamodome, following Canelo Alvarez’s victory over Callum Smith. “Or that he’s probably too old and he’s gonna retire. There was a lot of commotion going on and I had an idea of what they were gonna throw at me when I beat this guy.

“However, for Lomachenko to come out recently and come out with a statement like that, it definitely shocked me. It surprised me, but at the same time, I mean, what else can I expect from a guy who left without talking about what he did wrong in the post-fight press conference? He didn’t show up for anyone. So, I think these statements just show what kind of person he really is.”

The powerful Lopez out-boxed Lomachenko, who was a 4-1 favorite, to win their fight unanimously on the scorecards. Judges Julie Lederman (119-109), Steve Weisfeld (117-111) and Tim Cheatham (116-112) scored their bout for the 23-year-old Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs), who became the youngest fully unified champion in boxing’s four-belt era.

Lederman’s score wasn’t reflective of the work Lomachenko did during the second half of their bout, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist essentially gave away the first half of the bout by approaching Lopez very cautiously. His strange strategy early in their fight helped lead to the most decisive defeat of Lomachenko’s seven-year pro career.

“I think it just makes the other person look bad,” Lopez said, “when they talk about something that, realistically, everyone else saw different. You know, however, that person feels and however they wanna look at it, you know, that’s just someone that doesn’t wanna accept their defeat.”

The 32-year-old Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) didn’t have a rematch clause in his contract. Lopez doesn’t see any need to fight Lomachenko again.

“There’s no point,” Lopez said. “There really is no point. Listen, he doesn’t wanna fight again. That whole time that we fought – and I don’t need to explain myself because it’s there, it’s written. You know what I mean? But it’s written in stone. The guy don’t wanna fight. He was in survival mode the whole time.

“The best boxer in the whole world, that everybody said was a magician, a god in boxing, and all those things, the best fighter since Muhammad Ali, whatever they wanna say, he didn’t wanna go toe-to-toe with me. He did not even wanna take that chance, so it just goes to show what kind of man he really is.”