Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani explained

Fight Date:June 26, 2021
Fight Name:Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani
Location:Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Fighter1: Vasiliy Lomachenko
Record1:14–2 (10 KO)
Height1:5 ft 7 in
Weight1:134+3/5 lb
Style1:Southpaw
Hometown1:Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine
Recognition1:The Ring No. 9 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion
Fighter2: Masayoshi Nakatani
Record2:19–1 (13 KO)
Hometown2:Osaka, Japan
Height2:5 ft 11 in
Weight2:134+2/5 lb
Style2:Orthodox
Result:Lomachenko wins via 9th-round TKO

Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani was a lightweight professional boxing match contested between three-division former unified lightweight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, and lightweight contender Masayoshi Nakatani. The bout took place on June 26, 2021, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada.[1] Lomachenko won the fight by ninth-round technical knockout.[2]

Background

The pair share a common loss to Teófimo López. Lomachenko lost his unified titles to the American in October 2020, while Nakatani had also lost a unanimous decision to López in July 2019.[3] Lomachenko cited that he "still wanted to be undisputed lightweight champion". However, López declined to give Lomachenko a rematch, explaining that “everybody [in Lomachenko’s camp] was being a dick to me, my father. He [Lomachenko] didn’t want to put a rematch clause in our contract."[4] Speaking on why he chose Nakatani as his next opponent, Lomachenko said "I want to compare myself with this guy, he was close with [López] in their fight."[5]

Nakatani fought back from his loss to López, beating Félix Verdejo via technical knockout, after being dropped for the first time in his professional career.[6]

Lomachenko agreed to a comeback fight against Nakatani in Las Vegas.[7] The bout was aired on ESPN+ in the US[8] and Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.[9] It went head to head with Gervonta Davis' light welterweight clash with Mario Barrios on Showtime PPV in Atlanta, Georgia taking place on the same night.[10] The fight was only the second time in Lomachenko's professional career that a world title was not on the line.[11]

Fight details

Lomachenko reasserted himself as one of the best at lightweight, as the former pound-for-pound star dropped Nakatani in the fifth, before stopping him in round nine. CompuBox stats show that Lomachenko landed 104 out of 214 punches (49%), while Nakatani landed 29 out of 250 (12%).

With the victory, Lomachenko earned the right to a potential rematch with López, a reward he has made no secret that he desperately seeks. "He has a fight in the future with [George] Kambosos, but after [we will fight]," Lomachenko said. "Maybe next year, beginning of the year. December, January, February. I am waiting." Lomachenko added: "Everybody saw how I won this fight, and everybody is waiting for the rematch, so let's make a rematch."[12]

Fight card

Weight Classvs.MethodRoundTimeNotes
Lightweight Vasiliy Lomachenkodef. Masayoshi NakataniTKO9/121:48
Middleweight Janibek Alimkhanulydef. Rob BrantRTD8/103:00
Heavyweight Guido Vianellodef. Marlon WilliamsTKO2/40:01
Welterweight Giovani Santillandef. Cecil McCallaUD8/8
Bantamweight Luis Fernando Saavedradef. Robert RodriguezUD6/6
Bantamweight Floyd Diazdef. Jaime JassoUD4/4
Super bantamweight Subaru Muratadef. Keven MonroyTKO2/41:42
Lightweight DeMichael Harrisdef. Jonatan Hernan GodoyRTD3/43:00

Broadcasting

Country/RegionBroadcaster
FreeCable TVPPVStream
United States (host)ESPN+
[13] MEGOGOMEGOGO
[14] WowowWowow
Unsold markets[15] FITE TV
[16] BeIN SportsBeIN Sports
[17] Match TVMatch TV
Sky SportsSky Sports

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vasiliy Lomachenko to return to the ring against Masayoshi Nakatani on June 26 DAZN News Laos. 2021-06-20. DAZN. en.
  2. Web site: Vasiliy Lomachenko dazzles in return, stops Masayoshi Nakatani in the ninth round DAZN News US. 2021-06-27. DAZN. en.
  3. Web site: 2019-07-20. Lopez beats Nakatani in first bout to go distance. 2021-06-20. ESPN.com. en.
  4. Web site: Teofimo Lopez again refuses to give Vasyl Lomachenko a rematch DAZN News UK. 2021-06-20. DAZN. en.
  5. Web site: Lomachenko Wants To Beat Nakatani More Decisively Than Teofimo — Boxing News. 2021-06-20. www.boxing247.com. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2020-12-12. Masayoshi Nakatani gets off canvas to stop Felix Verdejo in lightweight thriller. 2021-06-20. The Ring.
  7. Web site: Vasiliy Lomachenko to return to the ring against Masayoshi Nakatani on June 26 DAZN News Laos. 2021-06-20. DAZN. en.
  8. Web site: Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani: Date, fight time, TV channel and live stream DAZN News US. 2021-06-23. DAZN. en.
  9. Web site: Sky Sports announces new partnerships with Top Rank and BOXXER until 2025. 2021-06-23. Sky Sports. en.
  10. Web site: Random Hits. Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios - PPV Card Officially Announced. 2021-06-22. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  11. Web site: BoxRec: Vasyl Lomachenko. 2021-06-22. boxrec.com.
  12. Web site: 2021-06-27. Loma TKOs Nakatani, tells Lopez 'I am waiting'. 2021-06-30. ESPN.com. en.
  13. Web site: Mediasat. Редакция. 2021-06-09. Ломаченко – Накатани: MEGOGO эксклюзивно покажет боксёрский бой легковесов Mediasat. 2021-06-23. ru-RU.
  14. Web site: WOWOW to broadcast Inoue Vs Dasmarinas and Nakatani Vs Lomachenko live!. 2021-06-23. ASIAN BOXING. en.
  15. Web site: ▷ Top Rank: Vasyl Lomachenko vs Masayoshi Nakatani - Official PPV Live Stream. 2021-06-23. FITE. en-US.
  16. Web site: Vasyl Lomachenko / Masayoshi Nakatani ▷ combat Boxe Championnat du monde en direct live. 2021-06-23. tv-sports.fr. fr.
  17. Web site: 2021-04-22. Василий Ломаченко против Масаёси Накатани. Жанибек Алимханулы против Роба Бранта. Бой за титул чемпиона WBO Global. 2021-06-23. matchtv.ru. ru-RU.