Lomachenko Stops Linares
As a fan of the noble art there are not many better things in life than watching two supremely gifted boxers ply their craft, looking for openings in some kind of pugilistic game of chess, Vasyl Lomachenko and Jorge Linares are two such boxers.
In a fight of the very highest quality in Madison Square Garden, Lomachenko became the quickest fighter in history to win world titles at 3 different weights when he stopped Linares in the 10th round to win the WBA lightweight title, in only his 12th fight as a professional.
A perfectly placed liver shot in the 10th ended the fight at a time when the fight was in the balance. Linares was ahead on one judges card and level on another so he was still in with a chance of defying the odds and beating the mythical pound for pound king.
Linares was always in the fight, but looked to be the one that was always forcing his work, he never looked comfortable, while Lomachenko for the most park looked the most likely winner, the fighter in control.
I thought Lomachenko looked to be taking over at the end of the 5th, but perhaps getting a little too over confident was dropped for the first time in his professional career by a straight right in the 6th.
Lomachenko more surprised than hurt heeded the warning after that and while the stoppage came as a surprise, I just had the feeling that he would be the one having his hand raised at the end.
Linares had his moments and certainly more than played his part in a terrific contest, just didnt push forward enough for me, despite being the smaller man Lomachenko got into range and his footwork and head movement got him out of trouble when he needed to, except of course for the moment in the 6th.
While he brought size, strength and his own elite skills to the table, Lomachenko at least in my opinion was always just one step ahead of him. Lomachenko proved just how good he is, and it will take a very good fighter indeed to beat him.
Lomachenko improves to 11-1, Linares drops to 44-4.
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