by Cliff Rold

It’s arguably been three years since Vasyl Lomachenko has seen an opponent who appeared to clearly win a round. An Olympic Gold medalist and World Amateur champion, twice apiece for each, the professional dominance the Ukrainian is showing isn’t really a surprise.

This weekend, he’s fighting to win over something else.

With an ESPN audience (10 PM EST/7 PM PST) that comes complete with the sort of fight week coverage that few were getting this time last year, Lomachenko has a chance to begin winning the masses. If he gets the same effort from Miguel Marriaga that Marriaga gave in a losing challenge of featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez earlier this year, the masses may come away impressed.    

Let’s go the report card.

The Ledger

Vasyl Lomachenko

Age: 29

Title: WBO super featherweight (2016-Present, 2 Defenses)

Previous Titles: WBO featherweight (2014-16, 3 Defenses)

Height: 5’7

Weight: 130 lbs.

Hails from: Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukraine

Record: 8-1, 6 KO (14-1, 6 KO including World Series of Boxing Contests)?

Record in Major Title Fights: 7-1, 5 KO

Rankings: #1 (BoxingScene, TBRB, ESPN, Ring, BoxRec, Boxing Monthly)

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Orlando Salido L12; Gary Russell Jr. MD12; Roman Martinez KO5; Nicholas Walters RTD7; Jason Sosa RTD9 (secondary WBA titlist)

Vs.

Miguel Marriaga

Age: 30

Title/Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’8

Weight: 129 ¾ lbs.

Hails from: Cartagena, Colombia

Record: 25-2, 21 KO

Record in Major Title Fights: 0-2

Rankings: Unrated at 130 lbs.

Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Nicholas Walters L12; Oscar Valdez L12

Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – Lomachenko A; Marriaga B

Pre-Fight: Power –Lomachenko B+; Marriaga B+

Pre-Fight: Defense – Lomachenko A; Marriaga B

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Lomachenko A; Marriaga B+

While a fighter moving up in weight, off a loss, for a title shot will have its detractors, Marriaga’s approach in the ring should make this good TV. Both of his losses are to very good fighters, in title fights, and he didn’t go easy in either fight.

He won’t go easy for Lomachenko either.

Lomachenko might make it look easy. He’s that talented. Marriaga’s willingness will mean he’s forcing the favorite to work for it. Taller, and with longer arms, Marriaga throws punches in combination and with some thought. His attack is rarely based on one shot at a time and he mixes up his approach. Marriaga has a nice straight right hand, works in a tricky uppercut, and keeps the pressure on. He also can be competent defensively, picking off shots with a high guard and slipping as he pursues.

Where Marriaga gets in trouble is in sometimes over committing to his attack. The Colombian can throw himself off balance and against Lomachenko, it could mean a mounting frustration. As good as he is with his offensive attacks and defensive upper body movement, the feet of Lomachenko may be his most dazzling attribute. When he gets into rhythm, he can appear to be floating in circles around opponents.

If Marriaga gets off balance, he’ll taste counters and find little to hit when he resets. To have a chance to win Saturday, he has to stay throwing, find places to land, and refuse to be discouraged. Marriaga gave everything he had against Valdez earlier this year and came up a little short (much shorter than the ridiculously wide scores had it). In spots, he had Valdez backing up and throwing little in return. His volume assault is the best avenue to landing the sort of fight ending bomb he has to look for all night.

Because, in terms of rounds, the idea of winning seven from Lomachenko seems a long shot indeed. 

The Pick

This isn’t so much about who will win as much as it is how. Lomachenko has a chance to show his wares before what will likely be the largest television audience of his career. Since losing a close one to Orlando Salido, Lomachenko has risen to every occasion. He’ll know how important winning, and looking good doing it, are this weekend. Marriaga is a tough, game guy but he’s technically outmatched here. He’ll maintain the respect he earned in the Valdez fight by giving his all. It won’t be enough. Lomachenko wins.

Report Card Picks 2017: 24-12 

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com