By Radio Rahim
On Saturday night from The Theater in Madison Square Garden, Vasyl Lomachenko retained his WBO super featherweight title after beating stopping Guillermo Rigondeaux in six rounds.
Lomachenko (10-1) dominated for six rounds before Rigondeaux called it quits, citing a left hand injury, before the start of the seventh.
The highly anticipated bout never reached any great heights. It was the first time in boxing history where two, two-time Olympic gold medal winners met in the ring.
Rigondeaux (17-1), moving up two weight classes, was left on the defensive throughout against Lomachenko, the duo considered among the greatest amateurs of all-time.
Both fighters made tentative and cautious starts, although Lomachenko began to come to life in the third.
Rigondeaux tied up his opponent repeatedly throughout the entire fight. Lomachenko landed numerous punches, but none of them really did an extreme amount of damage.
Lomachenko was the aggressor throughout as Rigondeaux defended, offering little in the way of counters. Rigondeaux was given a point deduction in the sixth and it would prove to be the final round.
In the aftermath, Lomachenko was shaking his head at Rigondeax's effort and expected a much tougher contest.
"I prepared for this, I knew about his style and I prepared for his style. As you can see - it was easy," Lomachenko told BoxingScene.com.
In past interviews, Lomachenko has said that he learns something new in every fight.
When asked if he learned anything new from Saturday's contest, Lomachenko replied - "No, no, no, nothing."
Lomachenko is not sure if Rigondeaux should be labeled as a quitter.
"It's an opinion. I don't know. Other people have to decide that. I can't decide that on my own," Lomachenko said.
Lomachenko did take a shot at Rigondeaux questioning his power in the lead-up.
"He says I don't have no power, I don't have no punch - but how can I have no power if he says 'no mas,' Lomacheko said.
2023-10-20 03:41:27
