Both Vasyl Lomachenko (12-1, 9KO’s) and Anthony Crolla (34-6-3, 13KO’s) made weight for their clash tomorrow for the Super World Lightweight Championship of the World Boxing Association (WBA). Champion Lomachenko came in at 134.4lbs, while challenger Crolla came in at 134.8lbs. The bout will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will be aired live on ESPN+.
“Loma” beat Jorge Linares in May of last year and removed from Linares the WBA title of 135 pounds. He returned to the ring in December for his first defense in the weight class and also came out victorious against Jose Pedraza. With just two bouts in the division, he became the best fighter of the weight and against Crolla wants to prove it.
A great career in the amateur field, including an Olympic gold medal in London in 2012, Lomachenko turned professional in October of 2013. A few months later, in June 2014, he was already winning his first world title at featherweight. Vasyl has been a very important fighter for television and very showy for the fans, while he has achieved titles in multiple weight class at featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight.
Nicholas Walters, Roman Martinez and Guillermo Rigondeaux are some of the victims of Lomachenko, who has been learning a lot of boxing while developing his unique style. In just 13 professional matches he is already a champion of three divisions and is seen as perhaps the best fighter in the world. In front of him for his upcoming bout against Crolla, he will have a slower fighter than himself, but Crolla is known for being a strong and durable boxer who comes with a physical advantage to the fight and who Lomachenko will have to be careful with.
On the other hand is the Englishman Anthony Crolla, who in November of 2015 made history in his hometown by knocking out Colombia’s Darleys Perez and conquered the 135-pound belt. Months later he defended against Venezuelan Ismael Barroso in another great fight, but his streak was cut off in 2016 when he met Venezuelan Jorge Linares, to whom he succumbed and lost the belt. Crolla had a rematch fight against Linares in 2017 but the result was the same and he now has to travel a long way for a new title opportunity.
Three wins, including one at 140 pounds, gave Crolla another chance against Lomachenko, the most fearsome opponent of the division, but against whom he has not much to lose. The Briton has always been characterized by his endurance, his calmness in the ring, and being a persevering rival. In his career he has five title fights, of which he has won two, lost another pair, and tied at one opportunity.
The table is set for this historic matchup that is featuring the WBA World Title as Lomachenko chases history for his fourth divisional weight title in only his 14th professional fight. The durable Englishman Crolla figures to put up a great fight while looking to shock the world.
