The Champ (Lomachenko) hasn’t lost since his second professional fight over 6 years ago. On Saturday, October 17, 2020, the young lion, IBF titlist, Teofimo Lopez will try to replicate what the youthful Muhammad Ali did and become the undisputed lightweight champion when he takes on the unified WBA and WBO champion and P4P superstar, Vasyl Lomachenko. Lopez, has been seeking this fight at the behest of his father, Teofimo Sr, since about 2018. And this Saturday, they finally get their wish. There’s been a lot of bad blood brewing between the two fighters who seemingly do not like one another. Lomachenko, 32 is still in the midst of his prime and is not ready to relinquish his throne, the same way Liston did at age 34 on that fateful day 56 years ago when he lost the fight to Muhammad Ali. Lopez, 23 is entering this fight brimming with confidence that he will be the man at the 135lbs weight class, much like Ali did. It’s an interesting contrast of styles with Lomachenko, the technician with impeccable footwork and Lopez, the athletic and hard punching marvel. Unlike the Liston vs Ali 1 fight, it is my belief that neither man’s reputation can or will be tarnished if they suffer a loss. However, as much as I have gone back and forth with my thoughts on how this fight ends up, I have made up my mind and I say Lopez wins by TKO in 7. If Ali was still here with us, I could picture him saying to Teofimo,
“Rumble young man, rumble!!”.
Will history repeat itself?
