After knocking out the Venezuelan Jorge Linares, the name of this Ukrainian boxer known to a select public, became very popular and even compared to big stars of the sport

Vasyl Lomachenko, was born in Ukraine, in the region of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, on February 17, 1988, and has become a world-wide sensation of the boxing, after winning by technical knockout to the WBA world champion of lightweight, the Venezuelan Jorge Linares. So much so that the environment of sports says he will be dominant in the ring as much as Roger Federer in tennis, Lionel Messi in football, Tiger Woods in golf or Muhammad Ali himself in boxing.

With that victory, the Ukrainian boxer has won three world championships in three different divisions in only 12 bouts. Thing that to another great fighter of all times like Oscar De la Hoya cost him almost the double of combats to obtain -22-. Therefore, some experts have agreed that he can become one of the best fighters in history. While others more daring compare it with the mentioned legends.

Leer en español: El próximo gran atleta mundial, "El nuevo Muhammad Ali", con ustedes: Vasyl Lomachenko

His beginnings as an amateur

Lomachenko developed almost all his career in amateur boxing, where he drew attention, exhibiting an impressive record of 396 wins by just one defeat. This is how he became an Olympic medalist in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 games (gold medal in both). He also won the gold medal at the Amateur World Championships in 2009 and 2011 and the silver medal in the 2007 Championship, where he added to his records his first and only loss when he succumbed in the final of that tournament.

He then signed with promoter Top Rank to make the jump to professional boxing, a move that made many doubt his chances in the professional field. However, history has proved him right and he has become one of the most feared fighters today.

A particular style

The Ukrainian, in his biography, says that his career began since he was in the womb of his mother and that the first gift he received at home after arriving from the hospital were boxing gloves, from there he spent his life between a gymnasium boxing and his daily life.

As a boxer he has a very particular style, he does not have a renowned coach, his own father is his coach, Anatoly, who trains him. In some interviews, he even stated that if it were not for his father being his boxing trainer, he would surely have chosen to practice ice hockey.

Unlike other fighters or athletes, Lomachenko does not run in his workouts, but takes walks and practices swimming. In addition, he practices Ukrainian ballet and dance, something to which many attribute his almost perfect foot movements over the ring.

As if that were not enough, his father included in his training the assembly of puzzles for the development of his mental agility. Perhaps this combination is what makes him one of the most complete boxers today and perhaps in history. Nobody has the 'crystal ball' to predict the accuracy of what Lomachenko will leave to boxing and sports; in that order of ideas let's wait that time speaks by itself.

Latin American Post | Daniela Escalante
Copy edited by Carlos Eduardo Gómez Avella