Boxing

VASYL LOMACHENKO has bizarrely claimed he thought he did enough to beat Teofimo Lopez despite being outclassed by the American at the MGM Grand.
The 32-year-old suffered a wide points defeat in Las Vegas as judges scored the bout 116-112, 119-109 and 117-111 in favour of the 23-year-old.

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Teofimo Lopez deservedly beat Vasyl Lomachenko after outclassing the Ukrainian legendCredit: Handout – Getty

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Lomachenko stormed out of the ring after he lost on all three of the judges scorecards

Lomachenko landed just 31 punches in the first seven rounds as he was schooled by his lightweight rival – who added the WBO, WBA and WBC franchise belts to his IBF strap.
After hearing the news his 13-fight winning streak had come to an end, the Ukrainian great stormed out of the ring in anger and frustration.
And he has stated that he feels his hand should have been raised in victory as he felt he dominated that last six rounds.
Speaking to Top Rank, he said: “I think in the first half of the fight, he got more rounds than I did.

“But in the second half of the fight, I took it and I was much better.
“I want to go home and review the fight. I can’t commentate too much on it.
“At the moment, I think I fought and was winning the fight, but the results are the results. I’m not going to argue right now. I need to see.
“Right now, I’m going home and after that I’m talking to my promoter and my manager and we’ll discuss and make decision.”

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It has been revealed that there is no rematch clause in the contract, leading Lopez to call out Devon Haney.
Lopez said: “I had to dig deep, man. 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. I’m a fighter. I gotta dig in deep.
“I knew he was coming. 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.”
Before adding: “Man, take me to 140. Or I could fight the two-time email world champion Devin Haney if they want that.”

Teofimo Lopez does a snowflake as he celebrates victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko More

TEOFIMO LOPEZ called out American lightweight rival Devin Haney just moments after his stunning demolition of Vasyl Lomachenko.
And it didn’t take long for Haney to give an answer, as he tweeted: “Lopez vs Haney 2021. Let’s do It! #AllTheBelts.”

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Teofimo Lopez is happy to put all his belts on the line to fight WBC ‘regular’ champ Devin HaneyCredit: Handout – Getty

After a scintillating unanimous points win against Lomachenko, Lopez added the WBO, WBA and WBC ‘franchise’ belts to his IBF strap.
Haney holds the ‘regular’ WBC version, and is keen for the pair to lay it all on the line next year.
Speaking in the ring after his dismantling of a fighter regarded as the pound-for-pound best in Lomachenko, Lopez said: “I had to dig deep, man. 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. I’m a fighter. I gotta dig in deep.

“I knew he was coming. 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.”
He was then asked what was next, to which he responded: “Man, take me to 140. Or I could fight the two-time email world champion Devin Haney if they want that.”
Haney puts his WBC belt on the line on November 7 against Yuriourkis Gamboa in Hollywood.

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Devin Haney, like Lopez, is also undefeatedCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Teofimo Lopez put on a masterclass to easily beat LomachenkoCredit: Handout – Getty

LO BLOW
Bitter Lomachenko rages at judge’s scorecards after getting dominated by Lopez

‘BROOKLYN CHAMP’
Tyson hails fellow New Yorker Lopez after stunning points win v Lomachenko

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Lopez stuns Lomachenko on points in 12-round epic to claim unification bout

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On a scintillating night at the MGM Grand in las Vegas, Lopez easily outpointed Lomachenko in just his 16th fight, winning on all three judges’ scorecards.
Tim Cheatham scored it 116-112, Julie Lederman a 119-109 thrashing with Steve Weisfeld having it 117-111.
While he didn’t look like he disagreed with the result, Loma was fuming and stormed out of the ring as soon as Lopez had his hand raised.

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Lomachenko was not sticking around as he lost his three world titles feeblyCredit: Fite.tv

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Lopez deservedly secured a wide-margin points win against Lomachenko at the MGM GrandCredit: Handout – Getty
It meant the Ukrainian missed the new undisputed king performing his victory somersault followed by doing the ‘snowflake’ on the floor.
Working out how to beat Lomachenko has been compared to a challenge like that of the hit film The Matrix.
But Lopez, at just 23-years-old, had all the answers, stronger and quicker from the start to leave Loma contemplating his future, certainly at lightweight. More

TEOFIMO LOPEZ conquered ‘The Matrix’ to be crowned undisputed lightweight champion with a stunning display.
The American easily outpointed Vasyl Lomachenko in just his 16th fight, winning on all three judges’ scorecards.

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Teofimo Lopez is the undisputed lightweight champ at just 23-years-oldCredit: Handout – Getty

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Lopez threw more and landed more in a dominant display

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Teofimo Lopez dominated Vasyl Lomachenko from the first bell

Tim Cheatham scored it 116-112, Julie Lederman a 119-109 thrashing with Steve Weisfeld having it 117-111.
While he didn’t look like he disagreed with the result, Loma was fuming and stormed out of the ring as soon as Lopez had his hand raised.
It meant the Ukrainian missed the new undisputed king performing his victory somersault followed by doing the ‘snowflake’ on the floor.

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Teofimo Lopez is on top of the world after battering a boxing legendCredit: Handout – Getty

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Lomachenko was not sticking around as he lost his three world titles feeblyCredit: Fite.tv

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Lomachenko was well down in the fight before he stepped up a gear from eight onwards
Lopez ripped the WBO, WBA and WBC franchise belts from Lomachenko to add to his IBF strap.

Working out how to beat Lomachenko has been compared to a challenge like that of the hit film The Matrix.
But Lopez, at just 23-years-old, had all the answers, stronger and quicker from the start to leave Loma contemplating his future, certainly at lightweight.
Lomachenko rightly was heralded as one of if not THE pound-for-pound kings of boxing.

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Lopez deserved all the success after a one-sided victoryCredit: Handout – Getty

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Lopez was hoisted into the air when the result was announced, while Lomachenko was left to reflect on a shocking day at the officeCredit: Fite.tv

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Lopez celebrated victory by doing a snowflake on the floorCredit: Fite.tv

LO BLOW
Bitter Lomachenko rages at judge’s scorecards after getting dominated by Lopez

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Tyson hails fellow New Yorker Lopez after stunning points win v Lomachenko

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But from the first bell in The Bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the 32-year-old was well off the pace.

Lopez, the bigger and stronger man, dominated throughout, and only a late rally in the ‘championship rounds’ gave Loma some credit.
But the damage was done as Lomachenko suffered his second pro loss while as ‘The Takeover’ did just that.

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Lopez took control of the centre of the ring right up until round eightCredit: Handout – Getty
Speaking after his stunning success, Lopez said: “I had to dig deep, man. 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. I’m a fighter. I gotta dig in deep. I knew he was coming.
“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.”

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THOMAS PATRICK WARD survived a horror cut in his war-draw with Thomas Essomba – but lost his status as Britain’s most in form fighter.
The County Durham super-bantamweight arrived at the East of England arena with a perfect 29-0 record and both eyes on a world title shot in 2021.

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Thomas Patrick Ward survived a horror cut in his war-draw with Thomas EssombaCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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Ward arrived at the East of England arena with a perfect 29-0 recordCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

But an accidental clash of heads in round seven of the rollercoaster rumble took the fight to the cards early and the three judges could not split the gladiators.
Blood-soaked Ward started well but Cameroon-born underdog Essomba battered his way back into the Peterborough contest.
With the clash perfectly poised, Ward and Essomba collided and the 26-year-old froze in pain.
Referee Bob Williams inspected the cut and let the bout continue but, after the ringside doctor was called to the ring for a second time, the fight went to the scorecards before the full ten rounds were completed.

One judge marked the fight 88-85 for Essomba, another went 88-84 for Ward and the third crucial card read 86-86.
Wolverhampton-based underdog Essomba and his team were heartbroken, after their man had worked so hard to almost upset the odds.
Ward’s faultless 29-0 had him level with two-weight world champ Billy Joe Saunders and ahead of Tyson Fury because of his controversial draw with Deontay Wilder.
But the new scars on his eyebrow and record will now cause a delay to his hopes of landing a world title as soon as he would have hoped.

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An accidental clash of heads in round seven of the rollercoaster rumble took the fight to the cards earlyCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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Referee Bob Williams inspected the cut and let the bout continueCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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On the undercard Ellie Scottney – who quit her job and B&Q – won her professional debut, outpointing Bec Connolly over six rounds.
Kane Baker became the first to beat Liverpool’s Meshech Speare after six competitive rounds.
Baker, who only took the fight on 48 hours notice, gave an emotional interview post-fight having fulfilled an ambition winning live on Sky Sports.

When boxing rewards the good guys ✨An emotional Kane Baker says he’s made a dream come true by winning tonight 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/fCSKwMnVAx
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 17, 2020 More

KUBRAT PULEV has issued a ‘sincere apology’ for saying that Anthony Joshua ‘had a better tan’ than him.
But the 39-year-old Bulgarian has angrily denied that the comments were racially motivated and says the words were ‘taken out of context’.

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Kubrat Pulev has apologised if his comments about AJ’s tan offended

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Anthony Joshua will put all his titles on the line in a December blockbuster

The two boxers will fight on December 12 with the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles on the line.
Bulgarian Pulev gave a press conference in his homeland on Thursday after the fight was confirmed where he made controversial comment about his opponent’s skin colour.
He said: “His strengths? I’d say he has a very powerful punch undeniably.
“What are his other strengths? His tan is better than mine.”

His comments were slammed by many on social media, and even fellow heavyweight Derek Chisora, speaking on talkSPORT, said that Pulev needed to apologise.
Now Pulev has explained himself in a lengthy statement.
He said: “I would never, under any circumstances, allow myself to show disrespect to another human being on racial, ethnic or religious grounds. That’s what I’ve been teaching my little nephews all the time.
“Each of us is born on this earth with equal rights, and skin color is completely irrelevant. I can’t believe how my words about Anthony Joshua have been taken out of context.

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Joshua is now in training for his December showdown with Pulev

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“It never even occurred to me to discredit another sportsman because of the colour of his skin!
“Amongst my friends there are people of different races and ethnicities. They are all great and worthy people, as well as my very good, long-standing friends whom I respect and love.
“It is 2020 and I very much hope that people would stop this small-mindedness and that human beings would evolve intellectually to realize that the truly valuable human qualities in this world are not manifested externally, but through the power of the human spirit and the virtues we carry within ourselves!
“Therefore, if somebody has been offended by my words, I hope they would try to understand exactly what I meant by them and if they cannot understand me, then accept my sincere apology.”
SOCIAL MEDIA FUMING
Joshua – who turns 31 today – is of Nigerian and Irish ancestry and has used his public status to raise the profile of the Black Lives Matter movement in the fight against racism in today’s society.
When given the opportunity to respond directly to the comments, Joshua said: “I respect every opponent and I respect Pulev. I wish him well during his preparation.”
But many of his fans took to social media and were quick to blast The Cobra.
One said: “You dirty racist.”
Another replied: “I hope Anthony Joshua smashes the living daylight out of Pulev after that ‘tan’ comment.”
A third added: “That’s a shameful 1970s comment. Awful.”
Another wrote: “Not acceptable – ban him from boxing and replace him as AJ’s next opponent. Great opportunity for boxing to show zero-tolerance stance vs racism.”
One user commented: “Don’t care what anyone says, this is racist.”
And a final person simply replied: “That is 100% racist.”

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Joshua will be the big favourite heading into the Pulev fightCredit: Instagram
It is not the first time Pulev has landed himself in hot water with his controversy.
In 2019 Pulev kissed a female reporter on the lips after beating Bogdan Dinu.
Jennifer Ravalo accused the boxer of grabbing her bottom off camera and left her feeling ‘shocked and embarrassed’.
Pulev denied the claims and told reporters: “That’s not true,” before adding that she was ‘not my type’.

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