Robert Garcia: Lomachenko is Pound For Pound Number One

By Ryan Burton –

Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV – Shortly after Vasyl Lomachenko’s seven round thrashing of Nicholas Walters in a HBO televised main event, elite trainer Robert Garcia spoke to BoxingScene.com about the 28-year-old phenomenon.

Prior to the fight, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and Andre Ward had been considered the top two fighters in the world. In their most recent fights both men won close decision victories that some observers felt could have been scored draws or even gone the other way.

Given the dominant fashion of Lomachenko’s victory, Garcia believes an argument could be made that he is the top fighter in the world pound for pound.

“I think so [that Lomachenko is pound for pound number one]. I would say that. Skills wise ain’t nobody better than him honestly. He’s the real deal skills wise. I think Walters should have tested him a little more but to me he didn’t even try,” Garcia told BoxingScene.com.

Lomachenko compiled an amateur record of 396-1 with Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012. He is now 7-1 as a professional with 5 knockouts.

Lomachenko captured his first world title in June of 2014, dominating former US Olympian Gary Russell to win his in his third pro bout. He matched Saensak Muangsurin’s record for fewest fights needed to win a world championship.

The only blemish on his pro record was a loss to Mexico’s Orlando Salido in Lomachenko’s second professional fight — when the vacant WBO featherweight title on the line.

It was an embarrassing first defeat for Walters as his decision to quit in the middle of the fight dropped his record to 26-1-1 with 21 knockouts.

Lomachenko said after the bout that he next wants to fight WBC super featherweight champion Francisco Vargas.

www.boxingscene.com/robert-garcia-lomachenko-pound-pound-number-one–111175?print_friendly=1