Lomachenko’s punches are ‘like tasers’ and he makes his opponents ‘look like they’re fighting in slow-motion’… how the boxing world views P4P king
VASILIY LOMACHENKO has had as many nicknames as he has world titles.
First the 31-year-old unified lightweight king was called ‘Hi-Tec’ because of the elite skill level he showed during his assault on the featherweight division.
Later, as he ripped through the super-feather ranks, he became ‘The Matrix’ because his actions broke all the fundamental laws of boxing and took him to a parallel universe.
And now, with the lightweight title completing his hat-trick inside just 12 professional fights, there is no need for hype and he is simply known as ‘Loma’ the pound-for-pound best boxer on planet earth.
Ahead of his 16th professional fight for the WBC strap, against Hull hero Luke Campbell at the O2 on Saturday, SunSport looks at how the WBA and WBO boss is viewed by the rest of the sport.
Legendary promoter Bob Arum
“He’s the greatest technical fighter I’ve seen since the vintage Muhammad Ali.
"There’s no fighter we have seen that compares in technical ability to Lomachenko."
Heavyweight icon Mike Tyson
“I think the best fighter in the world right now is a guy from the Ukraine called Lomachenko. He always does really well."
Five-weight legend Sugar Ray Leonard
“Lomachenko is a bad boy. I like what I see in him. He could own it all."
Tony Bellew
“I think he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"I think he is the best defensive and offensive fighter I have seen since Roy Jones Jr and I think a prime Roy Jones Jr is the greatest fighter who ever graced the sport.
“Lomachenko does things that you just cannot explain and he is doing them to world class fighters."
Amir Khan
“Lomachenko has jumped into these fights so early in his pro career, he is a brilliant fighter.”
P4P No1 rival Terence Crawford
“His skill set sets him apart, he makes his opponents look like they are fighting in slow motion. His punch selection and his angles make him such an effective fighter."
Ex-two weight world champ Paulie Malignaggi
“The only way I see Lomachenko losing is he carries on fighting until he is too old, or he goes up too many weight classes and a guy is just too big for him."
Former two-weight king Bernard Hopkins
"Jorge Linares was supposed to be his biggest test, a fight that was supposed to be a straight 50-50 but with that sort of stoppage win, against a guy as well respected as Linares, he delivered something special and went past the good and the other champs and became a superstar.
Former three-weight champ and 2018 victim Jorge Linares
“He has a very difficult style to beat.
"One minute he is there, in front of you, and in a second he is gone somewhere else. He is so fast and very intelligent."
Iconic trainer Teddy Atlas
“Lomachenko is the best fighter in the world.
"He can go to the body and the head, he uses his legs as well as his brain and has three lines of defence and he is exciting while he does it.
"He imposes his will and physicality on you while remaining elusive, he can walk in the rain without getting wet."
David Haye
“I have never seen anyone avoid punches and then counter them or switch stance like he does.
"He does some amazing things that leave me wondering ‘how did you do that?’."
British April victim Anthony Crolla
“I have never been tasered but I imagine the shot that he beat be with feels something like that.
“He caught me with a great shot, he hits harder than expected, it must be like what it is like to be tasered."
Tyson Fury
"I want Lomachenko to move up to heavyweight.
"Everyone is struggling with him at the moment.
“Someone asked me ‘how do you beat Lomachenko’ and I reckon moving up to heavyweight and fighting me might be the only way."
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Undisputed cruiserweight king and gym-mate, Oleksandr Usyk
“I very much consider him to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"He is also a real man and a real human being.
“Sometimes when we travel a lot in the car he is silent, but his silence has a way to inspire you so much.
"I love him, he is my brother."