If I Were a Boxing Matchmaker: Vasyl Lomachenko

Howdy folks. I am jumping off of the middleweight division for a bit to tackle some other weight classes and other top boxers in the sport. It is very obvious that the sport clearly needs to have highly ranked boxers fighting against each other, which is part of the reason for making these match making articles (among other reasons, like the fact that it is just really enjoyable and fun for me).

It is a problem that we have had for many years. They have avoided matchups that many fans would like to see that never happen, or boxers who lose to quality opposition then start fighting no-hopers to pad their record a little.

A loss on your record is okay.

It is a long and strenuous process that gets tiresome and boring after a while. One of the reasons that MMA has become so popular is because the best fights the best on most occasions. In boxing, this is rarely the case and when it does happen, we are overjoyed. All of these sanctioning bodies and excessive amount of “titles” are killing the sport, too. You know longer understand who the real champion is anymore. For most casual fans, they just hear the words “Championship of the World” and they think, ‘Ooh, this is legit.’

For people who try and make sense out of this crap, we say, what in tarnation is a “silver belt” or “interim belt” when the real belt holder is active, or who knows the many other ridiculous garbage titles we hear of. There are many issues with the sport and my hope is that one day we can get it cleaned up. That is part of the reason behind creating these articles. That way fans can understand this nonsense and demand the best fights from these promoters and matchmakers. Today I’ll talk about a real champion, who wants to be a real champion.

Vasiliy Lomachenko 12-1 (9 KOs)

Vasiliy Lomachenko is one of the sport’s most elite talents. He is a rare gem. He has great footwork, great hand speed, fluid body motion, flawless technique and good enough power to hurt an opponent. That is a recipe for major success. Not only for promoters and managers, but for fight fans abroad. Lomachenko is primed for matching with many of the other sport’s elite talents.

One good thing, among many others is that for “No-Mas-Chenko”, he is a small guy in and around great weight divisions with many other top tier boxers. Some casual fans debate the greatness of this man’s potential and future legacy because of how few bouts he has and the fact that he has already lost, but there is no question in my mind that he is already one of the best. I have yet to hear of any other boxer who has fought the level of competition he already has in his short professional career.

Up to this point he has fought opponents with a combined record of 411-37-16. That’s including his upcoming bout against Anthony Crolla. Have you ever heard of some stuff like that? If so, please let me know. I would love to hear it. That is amazing considering he has only lost once. He has less total professional fights than his opponents have combined draws.

As much as I enjoy watching him fight and succeed, I don’t really believe he should be fighting in the lightweight division. I think these men that he has been boxing are a little big for him and eventually it might catch up with him. The Jorge Linares fight was great and I’m really glad Linares got that opportunity to fight Lomachenko to prove his talent. That Linares bout and the Pedraza fight however, showed me that he should be at featherweight instead. I believe there are just as many great fighters down there and it seems to be a more natural weight for Loma. For the sake of matchmaking though, I will choose the best names to fight as of right now.

#1 Matchup: Mikey Garcia 39-1 (30 KOs)

This matchup is one that just needs to happen. Everybody wants to see it and there really isn’t a losing situation for anybody here. Two of the elite boxers in the sport and at the lightweight division. Whoever would win this fight would be crowned the real Lightweight Champion.

I applaud Garcia for taking the risk of fighting Errol Spence at welterweight. That is how real legends are made. Despite Garcia losing to Spence and the fact that Lomachenko will be defending his belts against Anthony Crolla, this Vasiliy Lomachenko versus Mikey Garcia bout needs to happen after that. I sure hope Mikey Garcia makes the right choice of dropping back down to lightweight where he belongs, so we don’t miss out on a great opportunity for a great fight. I think Lomachenko wins by decision but I still want to see it play out.

#2 Matchup: Gervonta Davis 21-0 (20 KOs)

Gervonta Davis is a young man who is proving that he is a rising star in boxing. His skill sets are great and this has the potential to be a barn-burner. As the late Terrell Owens once said, “Get your popcorn ready” for this one.

Davis has fast hands and has the knockout power to turn out some lights. Lomachenko and Bob Arum could let this marinate a little bit longer, but why wait? Davis is a thick 130 pounder and shouldn’t even be fighting down at that weight class anyways. Super featherweight shouldn’t even exist as a weight class at all. If Lomachenko took on Mikey Garcia after his defense against Anthony Crolla, this is a fight that most any fight fan would want to see after that. You could easily make this one happen around this time next year and the hype would certainly be stirring by then. Madison Square Garden could be a perfect spot for this. It would be tough to pick a winner in this and how, but I will go with Lomachenko by TKO late.

#3 Matchup: Robert Easter 21-1 (14 KOs)

There are many options out there when you are at the top of the food chain. That’s why this is always tough to decide. Tevin Farmer or Miguel Berchelt would be quality choices at this spot. Teofimo Lopez might be also. However, Robert Easter is a top tier lightweight who deserves the opportunity to fight the best guys in and around the lightweight division. I am certainly not implying that Easter would win. As a matter of fact, I don’t give him much of a chance against Vasiliy. However, a lot of people say Richard Commey should be next in line, except, I put Easter ahead of Commey because Robert Easter has already defeated Richard Commey and better competition in general. I think Commey is only ranked ahead of Easter because Commey has a “belt”. Robert Easter’s loss to Mikey Garcia should not be held too much against him, considering that Garcia is a pound for pound level fighter. I wouldn’t mind either way if it were Easter or Commey fighting Lomachenko in any order because I think they are both worthy opponents.

#4 Matchup: Richard Commey 28-2 (25 KOs)

Richard Commey is a top contender and rightfully deserves a shot at one of the top lightweights. Whether that is Mikey Garcia if he comes back down in weight or Vasiliy Lomachenko. Richard Commey gave Robert Easter a tough fight back in 2016 and they could make that fight happen again. It was a close fight that a lot of people thought either man won. Commey could give Lomachenko a tough test but I think Lomachenko wins that one. Probably by UD.

#5 Matchup: Leo Santa Cruz 36-1-1 (19 KOs)

This is a bout that would excite me more than the Commey or Easter fight. However, because Leo Santa Cruz has unfinished business at featherweight this one needs to marinate a little. Santa Cruz has talked about moving up in weight, but him and Gary Russell need to quit fiddle farting around and make that fight happen to decide a clear best at featherweight. Lomachenko could fight Gary Russell again, but I say maybe further down the road. If this Santa Cruz versus Lomachenko fight does happen, it would be a great scrap. There would be a lot of back and forth action and a lot of punches thrown. I don’t vouch for pay per view very often, but this one would be worth paying for.