Scorecard: Vasyl Lomachenko makes a case for fighter of the year
— -- A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world:
Saturday at Las Vegas
Vasyl Lomachenko TKO7 Nicholas Walters -- Fight recap
Retains a junior lightweight title
Records: Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs); Walters (26-1-1, 21 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: This was pure brilliance from the gifted Lomachenko, who may have only eight professional fights but might be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world as he retained his world title for the first time in stunningly one-sided fashion. In handing Jamaica's Walters, 30, a former featherweight titleholder, his first defeat, combined with a monster fifth-round knockout of Roman "Rocky" Martinez in June to win the 130-pound belt, Lomachenko is squarely in the conversation for fighter of the year honors. If he wins, he will only add to his growing legend that includes Olympic gold medals for Ukraine in 2008 and 2012 and numerous other accolades. Big-punching Walters is nicknamed "Axe Man," but it was Lomachenko who cut him down with ease using a variety of hard punches from both hands and such incredible boxing skills that Walters simply had no prayer to do anything against him.
After taking some heavy shots in the seventh round, Walters simply quit, much to the surprise of everyone, including referee Tony Weeks. Coincidentally, Walters quit 36 years and one day after Robert Duran's infamous "no mas" against Sugar Ray Leonard. It was a huge win for Lomachenko, whom Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said could meet Manny Pacquiao at a catchweight in late 2017, and a potential career-killer, at least in terms of HBO interest, for Walters.
Also on the card, welterweight contender Konstantin Ponomarev (31-0, 13 KOs), 24, of Russia, who is trained by 2015 Boxing Writers Association of America trainer of the year Abel Sanchez, cruised to a shutout decision win against Silverio Ortiz (35-19, 17 KOs), 33, of Mexico, winning 80-72 on all three scorecards. In another undercard fight, light heavyweight prospect Trevor McCumby (24-0, 19 KOs), 24, of Phoenix, scored two knockdowns and stopped long-faded Donovan George (25-7-2, 22 KOs), 32, of Chicago, at 1 minute, 48 seconds of the first round of their scheduled eight-round fight. George lost his third bout in a row.
Friday at Brentwood, England
Bradley Skeete W12 John Thain
Retains British welterweight title
Scores: 118-111 (twice), 116-112
Records: Skeete (25-1, 11 KOs); Thain (16-3, 1 KO)
Rafael's remarks: Skeete, 29, of England, rolled to victory in the first defense of the British title since winning it by unanimous decision from Sam Eggington in March. Skeete won going away but Thain gave him a few issues during the first half of the fight before Skeete found his groove and put his stiff jab to good use, which left the light-hitting Thain bleeding from the mouth and nose and with a cut above the left eye. Thain, 29, of Scotland, who has typically fought at junior middleweight, saw his five-fight winning streak come to an end.
