Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani: Does a Loma win to secure a rematch with Teofimo Lopez?

In boxing, the 135-pound division has exploded in recent years. The proliferation of emerging young talents has prompted us to say that we can move into a new “era of the four kings,” all of whom are fighting each other and ranging in age from 22 to 26 years old. But Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez Jr. although they seem ready to take the spotlight, a former champion is not ready to leave the stage.

Former lightweight united king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for his first fight since he lost his belts with Lopez last October when he took on Masayoshi Nakatani at the main event at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The fight against the former enemy is Lopez, who went away with the Japanese brut. Nakatani is difficult for a 135-pound division at a height of 6 meters, but the biggest question remains: is it enough to win with him to win against Lomachenko Lopez or other lightweight titles?

The fight with Lopez was weird for Lomachenko last night, as Lomachenko came out flat in the first half and pulled out too big a hole when he arrived late in the fight. The result was clear, but the work done in Lomachenko’s last few days showed that he was capable of hanging out with a man 10 years earlier.

Perhaps that’s why Lopez has come out against the idea of ​​publicly retaliating. Lopez said his unwillingness to return to the ring with Lomachenko was based on the perceived lack of respect from Lomachenko’s camp before the fight, and that the former champion’s camp did not bother to fight for a rematch. clause in the first combat contract.

Of course, Lopez has also publicly dismissed the idea of ​​fights with Garcia, Haney and Davis, saying none of them have fought significantly to win a shot at the division’s main star.

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The reality is that Lomachenko’s win on Saturday is likely to create a rematch with Lopez if there is no other reason than promotional ties. Lomachenko and Lopez are both Top Rank fighters, as Lopez recently ended his rivalry with his promoter and signed a restructured contract.

Top Rank teammate Bob Arum has suggested the fighters could reach the ring to beat Lomachenko Nakatani and Lopez would take care of business in a fight with George Kambosos Jr. on Aug. 14, telling Bad Left Hook. “Loma and Teofimo do a lot of business in the paid approach.”

In the end, whether the world of boxing’s focus is on young lightweight division guns, Lomachenko remains an undeniable presence. And winning against Nakatani makes it essential to immediately re-enter the world title picture.