Vasyl Lomachenko scores highlight-reel KO of Rocky Martinez to win 130-pound title
NEW YORK - Vasyl Lomachenko already was considered a generational talent, but he's improving all the time.
Saturday's performance before 4,545 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden was simply spellbinding, the end coming after Lomachenko unleashed a vicious left uppercut, right hook combination that sent Rocky Martinez flat on his back and out in the HBO main event.
Referee Danny Schiavone reached the count of 10 at 1:09 of Round 5 in a surefire contender for knockout of the year.
Lomachenko won Martinez's WBO junior lightweight title with the highlight-reel KO and became the fastest fighter in history to win belts in two weight classes, doing so in just seven pro fights.
The 28-year-old Ukrainian also holds the WBO featherweight title and will have 10 days to decide which belt to keep, but all indications are that he will stay at 130 pounds.
RANKINGS: Latest 130-pounder list
"I need more fights to get better," Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) said. "I want more fights to make history. Line up all the best fighters in 130-pound division and let's find out who the best really is. I came to do my job. I did my job very well tonight."
To say the least. Lomachenko easily won every round on every scorecard and did it so in a variety of ways. His footwork was fantastic. His command of range was top-notch, and he landed punches at will (57.9% of his power punches).
It's no surprise that Lomachenko is so technically sound. He's considered the greatest amateur boxer of all time (396-1 record) and won two Olympic gold medals.
But it is surprising just how advanced he is so early in his pro career. He defeated a top fighter in Gary Russell Jr. to win a 126-pound title in just his third fight. And now he wants to avenge his lone defeat against Orlando Salido, who beat him in his second fight.
"I will fight Salido anytime, let's do it," he said. "I want to fight Salido for my fans. I dedicate this victory to the greatest man who ever laced up gloves, Muhammad Ali.
"For me and Salido, it's personal. A lot of bad things happened to me in that fight (like numerous low blows), but I never said a word. But it's been eating at me, I want Salido next."
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Said Martinez (29-3-3, 17 KOs) of the tremendous disparity in speed: "I couldn't see his hands." The 33-year-old Puerto Rican was attempting to make the first successful defense of the title he won from Salido last year. They fought to a draw in a fall rematch that most observers felt Salido won.
Promoter Bob Arum held court following the fight and was singing Lomachenko's praises. Just then Salido walked by, and Arum asked "Do you want to fight Lomachenko? I'll pay you good money."
Salido, who fought Francisco Vargas to a draw in a war on HBO one week ago, responded "yeah!"
"You're looking at history," an exuberant Arum said. "This is history, this is not hyperbole. We haven't seen the likes of him ever.
"He is getting better, it's balance and distance and he figured that out. Manny Pacquiao in his best performance against (Oscar) De La Hoya was amazing the way he moved. He threw punches, escaped. This kid already did that against Martinez and is only going to get better."
"Muhammad Ali is the greatest of all time, Vasyl Lomachenko is the greatest of our time. He really is. You're going to see performances from this guy that you're not going to believe."
(Photo: Lomachenko celebrates his title win. AP photo.)