標籤: superfight

This time last year, gold medal-winning boxer and pound-for-pound superstar Vasiliy Lomachenko capped off his impressive run while competing in the sweet science. The Ukrainian went out on a high note with a knockout win over George Kambosos Jr. in his last fight, and at the age of 37, it looked like his decision would hold after losing two of his last six. Well, that didn’t happen.

On Tuesday, Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger reported that the three-division champion intends to return to the sport this fall, and that he will not compete in a tune-up bout. He wants to jump into the deep end of the pool and is looking for a big money fight.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at four potential opponent options for Lomachenko’s next fight.

shakur stevenson

The scrap many fight fans will be hoping for is a matchup with, arguably, the toughest puzzle in the sport at the moment, Shakur Steveson. The 28-year-old has excelled on his way to a 25-0 record and has become one of the most sought-after fighters in boxing.

If the former lightweight champion is looking for a big name and a bigger challenge to return from retirement, there is no better option at lightweight or junior welterweight.

teofimo lopez

Teofimo Lopez became a star in the sport when he scored a stunning decision win over Lomachenko in 2020. It was a defeat the future Hall of Famer never had to avenge. Having suffered defeat against Stevenson in January, a rematch with the Ukrainian would be risky. However, a second win over “High Tech”, even at the age of 38, would one day strengthen his own HOF case.

Ending his retirement to get one back – something he has yet to do for any of his three losses – would be an interesting story as well as a great fight.

Raymond Muratalla

Another interesting option for Vasiliy Lomachenko’s comeback fight would be a scrap with the best fighter at lightweight not named Shakur Stevenson, Raymond Muratalla. The 29-year-old is 24-0 and holds the IBF title after defeating Andy Cruz in January.

It would be no surprise to see Lomachenko jump into title contention immediately, potentially setting up a unification bout with Stevenson early next year.

Naoya Inoue

Although it is unlikely, fight fans would love to see a dream fight between Vasiliy Lomachenko and current pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue. After moving to 33-0 with a decision win over Junto Nakatani this month, there’s really not much else to do around that weight class for the unified junior featherweight king.

At the age of 33, when he is at the peak of his powers, he has to look for bigger opportunities to make money. Would the 122-pound star be willing to move up to 130, and would Lomachenko be willing to move down to make the fight? This is something both men should consider.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Khamzat Chimaev has long targeted a showdown with Alex Pereira, but the undefeated middleweight champion’s grappling coach believes the Brazilian striker should take a completely different route.

A key figure in Chimaev’s corner, Alan “Finfou” do Nascimento, recently spoke with MMA Fighting and offered surprisingly candid advice for the current light heavyweight king. Rather than risk his aura in a stylistic nightmare against “Borz”, Nascimento suggests that Pereira should pursue a third divisional title in the heavyweight ranks.

Nascimento acknowledges that a bout between the two superstars would generate significant revenue, but he feels the historical implications of the heavyweight move are far more important. The grappling expert pointed out that Pereira is already the financial A-side in almost any matchup.

Therefore, accepting the fight against Chimaev, even if a second title is at stake for the Chechen-born fighter, does not offer the same historical reward as capturing a third championship belt. Nascimento said achieving champion-champ-champ status is something the organization has never seen, making it the ultimate foundation for a combat sports career.

Despite advising against the matchup from his perspective, Nascimento is confident in his protégé’s ability to reach the 205-pound limit. He said that moving up to light heavyweight requires a fair amount of time to safely gain weight and cannot be done overnight. However, if UFC officials provide the opportunity and Chimaev is interested, the team will comply and move forward with the necessary preparations.

The coach praised both athletes for their mentality in rising from difficult beginnings to the top of the sport. When breaking down the hypothetical clash of styles, Nascimento predicted a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic, where the athlete who successfully dictates the fight location would be victorious.

He noted that if Chimaev failed to secure a takedown, he would be in serious danger of being knocked unconscious by Pereira’s signature left hook. Conversely, if Chimaev manages to pin the kickboxer to the ground, the chances of a submission victory will increase.

While acknowledging the unpredictability of combat sports – such as the hypothetical scenario of Pereira knocking out Chimaev – Nascimento firmly believes that the outcome depends entirely on which man can apply his tactics first.