Teofimo Lopez defeated Vasyl Lomachenko on points to become the undisputed lightweight world champion in their unification fight in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night. The 23-year-old Lopez won a unanimous judges’ decision and put on a fine display against Ukrainian great Lomachenko, who said after the fight that he disagreed with the judges. Brooklyn native Lopez advanced his record to 16-0 as he secured the win in front of just 100 people at the MGM Grand Conference Centre. “I had to dig deep, man,” Lopez said following his career-defining win. “I’m thankful. I’m grateful. And each and every day, I take that in. I thank God first because I couldn’t do it without him.” THE MOMENT!! Go full screen and soak this all in. #TheTakeover was more than just a nickname all along for @TeofimoLopez #LomaLopez pic.twitter.com/5IEl1i209h — Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 18, 2020 Lopez had the better of the Ukrainian but came out guns blazing in the final round, going for the knockout despite having been told in his corner by his trainer father that he was ahead on points. “I’m a fighter. I gotta dig in deep. I knew he was coming,” he explained after the fight. “I didn’t know if they had him up on the scorecards or not, and I love to fight. I can bang, too. I don’t care, man. I’ll take one to give one. That’s what a true champion does. I find a way to win.” TAKEOVER COMPLETE! 23-year-old @TeofimoLopez beats Lomachenko and is now the undisputed lightweight champion. #LomaLopez pic.twitter.com/5XD0S1Vyyg — ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) October 18, 2020 A savage right and pair of uppercuts hurt Lomachenko before the fight was stopped for an accidental headbutt on Lopez that opened up a cut above his right eye. The fight resumed for the final 10 seconds before the bell rang and the younger man was declared the winner. In victory Lopez becomes the second youngest man after Mike Tyson to win a third divisional title. “You just gotta keep pressuring him, press the gas, stick the jab and don’t really give him that opportunity to set up. Every time he did want to throw, I had something ready for him,” Lopez said. Tonight, Teofimo Lopez is seeking to become the 2nd youngest boxer in history to win a third divisional belt (Mike Tyson, 21 years, 37 days old, Aug. 1987) Vasiliy Lomachenko looks to be the 2nd lightweight and 1st male to win all 4 sanctioning bodies world titles (Katie Taylor) pic.twitter.com/ROKEhxSrSZ — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 18, 2020 Lopez won his first world title in his last fight, beating Richard Comney for the IBF world title in December last year. He knocked the Ghanain down midway through the second round to stop the fight. Rather than choosing easier fights, Lopez then went straight to Lomachenko, who is considered by many to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. Lomachenko, whose record moves to 14-2 as a pro with defeat, spoke through a translator after the fight. Teofimo Lopez walked onto my set in 2017 as a 20 year old and said he didn’t think much of Vasilily Lomachenko. Couldn’t believe it. Fast forward to today, the kid finally get his wish. #LomaLopez is here. pic.twitter.com/aehQy0IXDi — Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) October 18, 2020 “I think in the first half of the fight, he got more rounds than I did,” he said. “But then in the second half of the fight, I took it over and I was much better. I want to go home and to review the fight to see. I can’t comment right now much about it. But I definitely am not agreeing with the scorecards. “At the moment I think (I won the fight). But the result is the result. I’m not going to argue right now.”
