VASYL LOMACHENKO’S breakthrough performance came this weekend. Roman Martinez was a solid champion in the weight division above him, yet the Ukrainian did a number on him.
Martinez just couldn’t get to grips with Lomachenko’s movement or his technical mastery. The Puerto Rican was never in the fight but Vasyl dazzled when he turned the screw, savaging Martinez with a beautiful yet brutal combination that knocked Roman cold.
This was only Lomachenko’s seventh professional bout, making him the fastest two-weight world champion in history. Where then should Lomachenko go next?
Click below for our suggestions.
5. Guillermo Rigondeaux
Pairing two amateur masters has some appeal. Both are the proud holders of two Olympic gold medals each. Lomachenko has the skills to rival the superb Cuban, potentially more power in his punches and a more aggressive style compared to Rigondeaux’s defensive control.
But given that now Lomachenko has moved up to a division two weights above Rigondeaux, this match-up seems increasingly distant.
4. Jose Pedraza
There was a lively atmosphere when Lomachenko fought Martinez at the Madison Square Garden Theatre on Saturday with Puerto Rican and Ukrainian fans turning out in New York.
Why not then try to unify titles in his new division and take on another Puerto Rican in Jose Pedraza, who demonstrated his class against Stephen Smith?
3. Jezreel Corrales
Until the arrival of Lomachenko at super-feather, Corrales was regarded as the top man in the division after knocking out the WBA champion Takashi Uchiyama in two rounds in April.
This would be an intriguing unification clash to confirm who’s the best at 130lbs. And it would probably be another opportunity for Lomachenko to dazzle.
2. Orlando Salido
These two have a past. Lomachenko tried to make history in his second pro fight and win a world title faster than anyone had before.
Salido spoiled that dream, handing Lomachenko his first loss since 2007. Lomachenko would relish avenging that and wiping out that blot on his record. (Although given that Martinez has both beaten and drawn with Salido perhaps Lomachenko does not have much left to prove on that score.)
1. Dejan Zlaticanin
He’s only just become the WBC lightweight champion and Dejan Zlaticanin is hardly a big name in a the States, though he has fought his last two contests there.
But moving up another division and becoming a three-weight world champion in only eight professional contests, that would write Vasyl Lomachenko’s name indelibly in the history books.
