Loma Batters Nakatani Even If it Was Teofimo’s Face He Was Seeing

Published

4 years ago

June 27, 2021

Loma Batters Nakatani Even If it Was Teofimo’s Face He Was Seeing

Two pretty fair boxers, James Toney and Fernando Vargas, stoked their inner fires by imagining they were seeing the faces of the biological fathers who abandoned them and their mothers instead of those of their opponents on fight night. As motivational tools, imagination and hatred can be useful for those who feel a compulsive need to channel their rage at just the right moment. More than a few especially savage beatdowns were administered by Toney and Vargas to guys who probably didn’t realize they were stand-ins for those detested, deserting daddies.

That mental ploy, of course, could never work for three-division former world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. His papa, Anatoly Lomachenko, not only is his trainer and chief second but a man whose tough love in and out of the ring Vasiliy credits with making him the indisputably great fighter he long had been recognized as, and could, at 33, again be on the verge of being so acclaimed.

So, no, it was not some hazy apparition of an uncaring and absent parent that Lomachenko saw on the soon-to-be-battered visage of his Saturday night foe, Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani, in the ESPN+-televised main event from the Theater at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. But there is at least a possibility that the unfortunate Nakatani somehow resembled undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, at least in the mind of Loma, who has thought of little else other than his quest for revenge for the bitter upset loss he was tagged with by Teo on May 30 of last year.

However Nakatani looked before the opening bell rang, be it as himself or as someone wearing an otherwise invisible Teofimo Lopez mask to suit Lomachenko’s purpose, his facial features were significantly rearranged by the time referee Celestino Ruiz, either on his own accord or at the behest of Nakatani’s concerned trainer, halted the ongoing massacre with 1 minute, 12 seconds remaining in the ninth round. As Nakatani, who was floored in the fifth round, slid to the canvas in Ruiz’s arms, his right eye was bloody and swollen shut and he also was bleeding from the mouth. Courageous to a fault, Nakatani bore the look of someone who had just taken a frightful battering.

“And it’s over!” ESPN+ blow-by-blow announcer Joe Tessitore yelped when what long had seemed inevitable was finalized. “Loma is back!”

Although Lomachenko remained on most knowledgeable observers’ top 10 pound-for-pound lists after his setback to Lopez, he no longer was viewed as the consensus No. 1, nor was he accepting of the one-sided decision – the judges’ scorecards had him far behind by margins 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. He had continued to insist that he had fought well enough to at least have salvaged a draw, and that his performance in any case had been hindered by a sore right shoulder that had bothered him for some time beforehand during training and would again require surgery, as had been the case in 2018.

If his protestations sounded like sour grapes, it wouldn’t be the first time that a losing fighter – particularly a favored losing fighter – had rattled off a string of excuses. But Lomachenko’s second operation on his balky shoulder raised legitimate questions as to whether he was at his best against Lopez, and over the past eight months he made it a point to proclaim that in a do-over he would demonstrate that he was indeed the better of the two. Toward that end, even after the bout with Nakatani was announced, he spoke more about Lopez than he did of the taller, rangier Japanese rival who had gone the 12-round distance in losing to Teo on July 19, 2019, in Oxon Hill, Md.

The ESPN+ broadcast crew – Tessitore was joined by analysts Andre Ward and Tim Bradley Jr. – had hinted that Lomachenko could be making a mistake by apparently mentioning Lopez more than the man that would be in the opposite corner on Saturday night, who not only was world-rated and coming in with a 19-1 record, but sported advantages of 4½ inches in height and 5½ inches in reach.

But Nakatoni was selected for a reason, and that reason was for Lomachenko to prove to the world, and maybe to himself, that he could and would defeat him more impressively than Lopez had. If that was the objective, the Ukrainian southpaw, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, passed the test with flying colors. At the time of the stoppage, Loma led on the scorecards by margins 80-71 (twice) and 78-73.

Negating Nakatoni’s superior height and reach with ridiculous ease, Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) utilized dips and quick pivots to get inside and land big shots. CompuBox statistics showed him connecting on 104 of 214 total punches, an inordinately high 48.6 percent (Nakatani was 29 of 250, 11.6 percent), but he was on target with 89 of 152 power shots, a staggering 58.6 percent.

Perhaps in answer to a lot of fight fans’ prayers, Teofimo Lopez Sr., who trains his son, was in the house and he said he would be only too glad to recommend that Teo Jr. (16-0, 12 KOs) proceed to a rematch with Loma once he gets past his title defense against Australia’s George Kambosos (19-0,10 KOs). That bout was to have taken place on June 5, but was postponed when Lopez tested positive for COVID-19. It was rescheduled for Aug. 14 but is expected to be pushed back into September.

“After this performance (by Loma), I think the public wants to see this fight,” the elder Lopez said of a second matchup that must take place shortly after his son’s date with Kambosos, as Teo Jr. is planning a move up to junior welterweight early in 2022. Lopez-Lomachenko II no doubt would be a huge attraction, made more so by both fighters’ absolute confidence in themselves to seize the moment.

“Maybe next year, beginning of the year,” Lomachenko said of his timetable for getting it on again with Lopez. “December, January, February. I am waiting.”

So are fight fans everywhere.

Alimkhanuly Dominates Brant

In the co-featured bout in Vegas, Kazakhstan middleweight Zhanibek “Janibek” Alimkhanuly (10-0, 6 KOs) almost toyed with former WBA titlist Rob Brant (26-3, 18 KOs) before referee Michael Ortega, at the request of Brant’s trainer, Brian McIntyre, waved off the one-sided fight at the end of the eighth round.

“That’s it, man,” said McIntyre, best known for his work with – welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford. “I can’t let you get hurt.”

Known as a high-volume puncher, Brant was tentative almost from the start against Alimkhanuly, a southpaw who scored repeatedly with stiff blows that discouraged his opponent from engaging too recklessly. In the fourth round, analyst Tim Bradley Jr. said of the Kazakh, a 2016 Olympian, “This is easy. Like taking candy from a baby.”

Nor would Brant fare any better as the bout continued. McIntyre had seen enough through eight and it was pointless to proceed with the final two rounds of an unwinnable fight.

The takeaway for Alimkhanuly, who is ranked No. 2 by the WBO, No. 6 by the WBC and No. 9 by the IBF, is that his status as an emerging threat in the 160-pound weight class continues to be confirmed.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

Published

8 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

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Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is the winner of the Feb. 2 match between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa/Fulton have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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Eric Priest Wins Handily on Thursday’s Golden Boy card at the Commerce Casino

Published

14 hours ago

January 24, 2025

David A. Avila

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Model turned fighter Eric Priest jabbed and jolted his way into the super middleweight rankings with a shutout decision win over veteran Tyler Howard on Thursday.

In his first main event Priest (15-0, 8 KOs) proved ready for contender status by defusing every attack Tennessee’s Howard (20-3, 11 KOs) could muster at Commerce Casino, the second fight in six days at the LA County venue.

All ticket monies collected on the Folden Boy Promotions card were contributed to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation as they battle wildfires sprouting all over Los Angeles County due to high winds.

Priest, 26, had never fought anyone near Howard’s caliber but used a ramrod jab to keep the veteran off-balance and unable to muster a forceful counter-attack. Round after round the Korean-American fighter pumped left jabs while circling his opposition.

Though hit with power shots, none seemed to faze Howard but his own blows were unable to put a dent in Priest. After 10 rounds of the same repetitive action all three judges scored the fight 100-90 for Priest who now wins a regional super middleweight title.

Priest also joins the top 15 rankings of the WBA organization.

In a fight between evenly matched middleweights, Jordan Panthen (11-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated after 10 rounds versus DeAundre Pettus (12-4, 7 KOs). Though equally skilled, Panthen simply out-worked the South Caroliina fighter to win by unanimous decision. No knockdowns were scored.

Other Bouts

Grant Flores (8-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Costa Rica’s David Lobo Ramirez (17-4, 12 KOs) with two successive right uppercuts at 2:59 of the second round of the super welterweight fight.

Cayden Griffith (3-0, 3 KOs) used a left hook to the body to stop Mark Misiura at 1:43 of the second round in a super welterweight bout.

Jordan Fuentes (3-0) floored Brandon Badillo (0-3-1) in the third round and proceeded to win by decision after four rounds in a super bantamweight fight.

A super featherweight match saw Leonardo Sanchez (8-0) win by decision over Joseph Cruz Brown (10-12) after six rounds.

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 310: Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue and More

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2025

David A. Avila

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Many proclaim super bantamweight world champ Naoya Inoue to be the best fighter in the world today. It’s a serious debate among boxing pundits.

Is he Japan’s best fighter ever?

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) takes another step toward immortality when he meets Korea’s Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs) on Friday Jan. 24, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank and Ohashi Promotions card.

Inoue defends the IBF, WBC, WBA and WBO world titles.

This is Inoue’s third defense of the undisputed super bantamweight division that he won when he defeated Philippines’ Marlon Tapales in December 2023.

Japan has always been a fighting nation, a country derived from a warrior culture like Mexico, England, Russia, Germany and a few others. Professional boxing has always thrived in Japan.

My first encounter with Japanese fighters took place in March 1968 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. It was my first visit to the famous boxing venue, though my father had performed there during the 1950s. I was too young to attend any of his fights and then he retired.

The main event featured featherweights Jose Pimentel of Mexico against Sho Saijo of Japan. Both had fought a month earlier with the Mexican from Jalisco winning by split decision.

Pimentel was a friend of my female cousin and gave my father tickets to the fight. My family loved boxing as most Latino families worldwide do, including those in the USA. It’s a fact that most sports editors for newspapers and magazines fail to realize. Latinos love boxing.

We arrived late at the boxing venue located on Grand Avenue and 18th street. My father was in construction and needed to pick me up in East L.A. near Garfield High School. Fights were already underway when we arrived at the Olympic Auditorium.

It was a packed arena and our seats were fairly close to the boxing ring. As the fighters were introduced and descended to the ring, respectful applause greeted Saijo. He had nearly defeated Pimentel in their first clash a month earlier in this same venue. Los Angeles fans respect warriors. Saijo was a warrior.

Both fighters fought aggressively with skill. Every round it seemed Saijo got stronger and Pimentel got weaker. After 10 strong rounds of back-and-forth action, Saijo was declared the winner this time. Some fans booed but most agreed that the Japanese fighter was stronger on this day. And he was stronger still when they met a third time in 1969 when Saijo knocked out Pimentel in the second round for the featherweight world title.

That was my first time witnessing Japan versus Mexico. Over the decades, I’ve seen many clashes between these same two countries and always expect riveting battles from Japanese fighters.

I was in the audience in Cancun, Mexico when then WBC super featherweight titlist Takashi Miura clashed with Sergio Thompson for 12 rounds in intense heat in a covered bull ring. After that fight that saw three knockdowns between them, the champion, though victorious, was taken out on a stretcher due to dehydration.

There are so many others going back to Fighting Harada in the 1960s that won championships. And what about all the other Japanese fighters who never got the opportunity to fight for a world title due to the distance from America and Europe?

Its impossible to determine if Inoue is the greatest Japanese fighter ever. But without a doubt, he is the most famous. Publications worldwide include him on lists of the top three fighters Pound for Pound.

Few experts are familiar with Korea’s Kim, but expect a battle nonetheless. These two countries are rivals in Asian boxing.

Golden Boy at Commerce Casino

Middleweights Eric Priest and Tyler Howard lead a Golden Boy Promotions fight card on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA. DAZN will stream the boxing card.

All ticket money will go to the Los Angele Fire Department Foundation.

Kansas-based Priest (14-0, 8 KOs) meets Tennessee’s Tyler Howard (20-2, 11 KOs) in the main event in a match set for 10 rounds.

Others on the card are super welterweights Jordan Panthen (10-0) and Grant Flores (7-0) in separate bouts and super lightweight Cayden Griffith seeking a third consecutive win. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Diego Pacheco at Las Vegas

Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) defends his regional titles against Steve Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) at the Chelsea Theater at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jan. 25. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

It’s not an easy fight for Pacheco.

“I’ve been fighting for six years as a professional and I’m 22-0 and I’m 23 years old. I feel I’m stepping into my prime now,” said Pacheco, who trains with Jose Benavidez.

Also on the card is Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz and Southern California’s dangerous super lightweight contender Ernesto Mercado in separate fights.

Fights to Watch (All times Pacific Time)

Thurs. DAZN 6 p.m. Eric Priest (14-0) vs Tyler Howard (20-2).

Fri. ESPN+ 1:15 a.m. Naoya Inoue (28-0) vs Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2).

Sat. DAZN 9:15 a.m. Dalton Smith (16-0) vs Walid Ouizza (19-2); Ellie Scotney (9-0) vs Mea Motu (20-0).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Diego Pacheco (22-0) vs Steve Nelson (20-0).

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