Vasyl Lomachenko vows to knock out unbeaten Guillermo Rigondeaux as boxing blockbuster edges closer
Two of boxing’s most decorated amateurs are set to do battle this Saturday night in what is hoped to be a memorable showdown
VASYL LOMACHENKO says he will knockout Cuban foe Guillermo Rigondeaux in one of the most anticipated fights in recent years.
Two of boxing’s most decorated amateurs are set to do battle this Saturday night in a showdown that will see Ukrainian superstar Lomachenko’s WBO super-featherweight world title up for grabs.
Despite the belt being on the line both men are regarded by most observers as the sport’s two most skilled fighters, with 29-year-old Lomachenko aiming to make a quick night of it.
He said: “I am going to walk through him like a tank and knock him out.
"I am like every single fighter – going into the ring I have in my mind ‘finish the bout before all the rounds are over and to get the victory before that.
“There is a good possibility that the fight will end before the 12th round. I am not promising to knock him out but I am promising to squash him.
“I have a plan in my head, a picture of what I am going to do but I don’t think it would be too smart to talk about it right now. I think it is better one time to see than 100 times to say."
It looked unlikely that the pair would ever share the ring but this historic clash will now mark the first time two-time Olympic gold medallists have fought each other professionally at the highest level.
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He added: “I agree that it is a historical bout, it is an interesting bout and most importantly it is an interesting bout for me.
“A lot of time was spent to make this bout. For a while it was never happening and finally it happened.
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"It is very, very interesting and all of the boxing fans wanted to see the fight and finally we can deliver it.
Thirty-seven-year-old Rigondeaux has held multiple world titles at super-bantamweight but will be moving up eight pounds to take on Lomachenko at the 130-pound super-featherweight limit.
However, ‘The Jackal’ is unconcerned at this and believes he will be just as strong at the new weight, as he looks to give fans a fight to remember at the sold-out Madison Square Garden.
Rigondeaux said: “I went up to 130 because it was the only way I could get this fight made.
"I would rather it have been at a lower weight, but I want to show the world that I can do it by moving up two weight classes.
“I feel stronger than ever and I am going to do it and do it right. Moving up has had no negative effect whatsoever on my speed or power.
“It is the first time in history that two multiple Olympic champions are going to fight each other and it is going to be a very good fight.
“It’s going to be a great fight for the fans and it’s going to be a great historical fight that fans will forever look back on.
Prior to the monster clash from New York, BoxNation will also be live from the Copper Box Arena in London in a stacked card that sees IBF super-middleweight world champion James DeGale defend his title against the dangerous American Caleb Traux.
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"Chunky" DeGale fights in the UK for the first time in three years following his 2014 third round win over Marco Antonio Periban and will headline a card that also sees IBF featherweight world champion Lee Selby back in action.
The Welsh star goes up against Mexico’s Eduardo Ramirez, with rising stars Anthony Yarde and heavyweight Daniel Dubois featuring on the night.
The live action from London starts at 6.35pm this Saturday evening, with Lomachenko v Rigondeaux taking place later that night exclusively live on ‘The Channel of Champions’.
BoxNation is available on Sky/Freeview/Virgin/TalkTalk/EE/Apple TV/ online at watch.boxnation.com and via apps (iOS, Android, Amazon) for just £12 a month. Buy now at boxnation.com.