Sunday Convo: Lomachenko Returns As Neo In Australia

“Nothing comforts anxiety like a little nostalgia”-Modal Morpheus, Matrix Resurrection

Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) is once again a lightweight champion as he captured the IBF strap last night in Perth, Australia, when he knocked out George Kambosos Jr (21-3, 10 KOs) in the 11^th round on ESPN. Those who watched felt some nostalgia in the air as Lomachenko looked like the fighter we all remember seeing during his rise through the rankings. Did we truly see a vintage Lomachenko last night? Was it more about Kambosos not being a high-level fighter or a little bit of both?

As soon as Lomachenko walked into the ring, you could see that he was all about business, while Kambosos had the look of a man who knew he was way over his head. As soon as the bell rang, Lomachenko peppered Kambosos with the right jab and used his movement to give Kambosos different angles. It was a big ring that played into Lomachenko’s game, as he loves using every inch of it. Kambosos was successful to the body during the middle rounds but the accumulation of Lomachenko’s punches became too much for him to handle. Lomachenko had vintage footwork throughout the fight, but his reflexes to bring his hands back were a tick slower which happens when you are 36 years old and had as many fights as he’s had. Kambosos was fortunate enough to last eleven rounds, not because of his skills but because he was fighting an older version of an elite fighter.

Finally, in the 11^th round, Kambosos cracked, and it was a left punch to the gut by Lomachenko that sent Kambosos down for the first time in the fight. When Kambosos got up, he was visibly hurt but continued, and Lomachenko would jump on him and finish Kambosos off with some flurries. Lomachenko earned the 11th-round knockout but, more importantly, raised the excitement level of the lightweight division because of the potential future matchups.

Is Lomachenko Back, Or Just Good Enough To Have Another Big Fight?

I know fans are tired of the Matrix comparisons that Top Rank has used to market Lomachenko but it’s a comparison that is scary close. Last night reminded me of the 2021 Matrix Ressurection movie as the character Neo had been lost in his own creation, but when he finally returned, he saw himself as the version everyone remembers while the reality was that he was a much older man who blended in with the world. That’s the vibe Lomachenko gave off last night, as he felt like vintage Loma. Everyone knew he wasn’t, but he was still a good enough fighter to compete with the top names in the division. In the movie, Neo eventually returns to his old ways, which isn’t what he was at his peak. Regardless, Lomachenko is once again a champion, and now the potential suitors will line up for a crack at the title.

Who Is Next For Vasiliy Lomachenko?

There are a few different options, but two names that stand out right away are WBA champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis & WBC champion Shakur Stevenson. The Davis fight has been brought up a few times in years past, but when Floyd Mayweather was around Tank, he would quickly shut down any discussions for a potential fight. Now that Premier Boxing Champions is involved with Prime Video and the Saudis (Turki Alalshikh), could it be a fight that happens? I guess you can never say never.

What about Stevenson? He has a fight in July, which is the last one under contract with Top Rank. There haven’t been any public comments made that an extension has been signed, so there is a chance he will explore the free agency market. Top Rank wouldn’t be in any rush as they also have the option of matching Lomachenko against the winner of Emanuel Navarrete and Denys Berinchyk. Let’s say Stevenson does re-sign, and he gets the Lomachenko fight on Heisman Night in December, what would that look like?

FightsATW checked in with super lightweight Zachary Ochoa, who has been in multiple Lomachenko training camps. Ochoa told FightsATW that Lomachenko looked vintage and had that “killer look in his eyes.” Regarding the potential Stevenson matchup, Ochoa said, “It’s not an easy fight for both guys. It would be a harder fight for Stevenson because he wouldn’t land anything unless he engages. Loma would apply smart pressure, but that may make Shakur clinch more, making it a potentially boring fight. I like Shakur because he can fight and box but gets satisfied easily.” Ochoa makes a solid point, but Lomachenko could be the guy who forces Stevenson into a real fight.

The dark horse in all of this is William Zepeda. He is with Golden Boy, and they have done business with Top Rank enough times that it wouldn’t come in between Zepeda getting Lomachenko. Zepeda is a buzzsaw, but I can see him having trouble with Lomachenko and not being able to cut off the ring well enough to get to Lomachenko. The fans would likely love to see it, but a Zepeda vs. the winner of Navarrete vs Berinchyk is the fight that has to be made next.

My Three Cents

Lomachenko is the IBF champion and has plenty of options for his next fight, but it sounds like he will take some time off to spend with his family before making a decision. Look for Lomachenko to return in December in a big fight against one of the names mentioned in this article.

Abraham Gonzalez

Abraham Gonzalez is the founder of FightsATW. His journalistic work has been published and used across several platforms to include online, network TV and promotional companies. He is an American Public University alumnus and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). Abraham was the Managing Editor for NYFights, Big Fight Weekend, contributed to FanSidedMMA and ProBoxTV.

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