The perspective Ukrainian boxer Vasyl Lomachenko became a sensation in New York last night when he impressively stopped Guillermo Rigondeaux. The Cuban had to retain his super-featherweight world title on Saturday.
Impressive the 29-year-old heavy pre-fight favourite from Ukraine won on Saturday after six rounds, Rigondeaux, citing a hand and wrist injury, told the referee that he did not want to continue prior to the seventh round. The Ukrainian athlete handed the Cuban his first professional defeat, but the highly-anticipated duel between a pair of double Olympic champions resulted in an anti-climatic finish.
All three judges had Rigondeaux, who moved up two weight divisions for the bout, behind when he quit in front of a disappointed Madison Square Garden crowd, making it the fourth consecutive Lomachenko fight in which his opponent has retired.
The 29-year-old Lomachenko defended his title for the fourth time and improved his career record to 10-1 (eight TKOs), including seven knockouts.
After such brilliant fight, Vasyl Lomachenko, a gold medalist at the Beijing and London Olympics, told journalists that the recent his victory is not his weight so it’s not a big win for him personally.
“But he’s a good fighter, he’s got great skills. I adjusted to his style, low blows and all,”
Lomachenko praised the 37-year-old Guillermo Rigondeaux.
