An undisputed lightweight king will be crowned when WBA Super, WBC Franchise and WBO 135lbs champion Vasiliy Lomachenko meets IBF title-holder Teofimo Lopez at the “Bubble” in the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on October 17.
“Lomachenko-Lopez is the best fight that can be made in boxing, and we are delighted that it will be available to fans for no extra charge live on ESPN [in the US},” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Teofimo and Vasiliy demanded the fight, and we are glad we could make it happen. Vasiliy has never backed down from a challenge since he turned pro under the Top Rank banner, and Teofimo is a fearless young champion daring to be great. This has all the makings of a modern boxing classic.”
Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) added: “Teofimo Lopez can talk all he wants. He’s very good at talking. He has done nothing but say my name for the past two years. I am a fighter, and my goal is to win another world title. Good for Teofimo. When we fight in Las Vegas, he will eat my punches and his words. I will be the better man, and four world titles will come home with me to Ukraine.”
Naturally, Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) disagrees: “I will beat up Lomachenko and take his belts. Simple as that. I’m coming to Las Vegas to make history. I don’t like the guy, and I’m going to have fun as Lomachenko’s face is beaten and marked up by my hands. The Takeover is here, and the reign of Lomachenko, the little diva, is coming to an end.”
The lightweight unification battle is only part of a packed October schedule from Top Rank, also featuring the return of the ‘Monster’ Naoya Inoue on October 31. Other highlights on ESPN and ESPN+ include:
Saturday, October 3 (ESPN+)
Jose Zepeda (32-2, 2 NC, 25 KOs) vs Ivan Baranchyk (20-1, 13 KOs).
MGM Grand, Las Vegas; 10 Rounds, 140lbs.
Friday, October 9 (ESPN)
Emanuel Navarrete (32-1, 28 KOs) vs Ruben Villa (18-0, 5 KOs).
MGM Grand, Las Vegas; vacant WBO featherweight title.
Friday, October 23 (ESPN)
Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) vs Adam Deines (19-1-1, 10 KOs).
Moscow; WBC/IBF light-heavyweight titles.
Saturday, October 31 (ESPN+)
Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) vs Jason Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs).
MGM Grand, Las Vegas; WBA Super and IBF bantamweight titles.