Bradley: Commey, Lopez no match for Lomachenko
Editor’s be aware: Vasiliy Lomachenko is three-fourths of the way in which to his aim of unifying boxing’s light-weight division after defeating Luke Campbell Saturday in London. Just one main belt stays, and that title will belong to both present titleholder Richard Commey or necessary challenger Teofimo Lopez as soon as that struggle is formally made for late in 2019.
Lomachenko appears poised and able to struggle both man as soon as the chance comes collectively, and that appears significantly true relating to Lopez. Over the previous couple of years, the 22-year-old upstart and his father have spoken usually of their want to face Lomachenko, with Lopez’s father (additionally named Teofimo) having some harsh phrases for the perfect pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
So how does Lomachenko’s last hurdle to unification play out? Former two-division world titleholder Timothy Bradley Jr. has the scouting report on how each Lopez and Commey would match up towards Lomachenko in a possible struggle with all 4 belts on the road.
How does Lopez match up with Lomachenko?
Teofimo Lopez, left, is unbeaten and one of the crucial thrilling fighters in boxing. Mikey Williams/Prime Rank
Bradley: He has to win the Commey struggle first. I’ve doubts about that one. That is a tricky struggle for Lopez at this stage in his profession.
He is a harmful man, however in the event you match him up with a man like Lomachenko, effectively, it will be like highschool trigonometry. It’ll be like trigonometry over again for him. He’ll study slightly one thing about angle. He’ll study what you assume is there’s not all the time there.
I noticed a number of vulnerability in Lopez in his final struggle. He obtained hit with some clear proper palms by Masayoshi Nakatani. You possibly can’t get hit with these sorts of photographs towards a man like Commey. You possibly can’t. Commey has deadly punching energy in each palms.
You understand how it appears from the skin and the way it’s within the inside, when you get in there with Lomachenko. I feel Lomachenko’s going to mess around with Lopez. I feel Lomachenko’s going to punish him for saying the issues that he and his father have mentioned (LINK). He’ll punish him as a result of his father saved choosing on Lomachenko and disrespecting Lomachenko. I feel Lomachenko’s going to let the struggle go on so long as he desires to go on. He’ll simply choose the child aside and depart him in items.
Lopez, at this level, has no technique to flip round. He is put himself on this place, however like I mentioned, to start with he has to get previous Commey.
It will likely be a studying expertise. I do not assume it would harm his profession as a result of he is nonetheless younger in his profession, however it would have an effect on his delight. He’ll acquire a number of expertise from a loss to Lomachenko. It might be slightly piece of humble pie on the identical time.
Despite the fact that he’s a giant 135-pounder, Loma, myself, I imply anybody that is on the high stage understands what we witnessed when he fought Nakatani. To me, he was uncovered, and he obtained uncovered in a approach the place he was hit with proper palms, nearly too usually, and he was by no means in a position to make that adjustment.
One of many defenses that Lopez likes to make use of is the catch and shoot. So, that is his factor, you understand, much like an Anthony Yarde, the place they drop their left hand and so they do not actually use the left hand to dam something and so they rely on shoulder roll. Properly that is no particular protection. He will depend on the shoulder roll, and the way in which you beat the shoulder roll is an efficient jab, educated toes, come excessive with the correct after which carry again the left hook, as a result of their opponent is lined up for that kind of punch.
Loma, being a southpaw, will most likely land that straight left hand each time he pulls again along with his palms — his left hand down and his proper hand up. I simply see Loma slowly breaking him down after which stopping him. I see Loma stopping Lopez, I truthfully do.
How does Commey match up with Lomachenko?
Richard Commey, left, confirmed his energy by sending Raymundo Beltran to the canvas 4 occasions in an eight-round KO victory in June. Mikey Williams/Prime Rank
Bradley: These guys, they do not know. They do not perceive trigonometry, they do not perceive angles. Loma does, and it might be the identical downside for Commey as it will be for Lopez — however I feel it might be even worse for a man like Commey.
Richard Commey, he fights regular, stiff, not likely a complete lot of upper-body motion. He throws punches extensive. Loma will be capable to time him with photographs. Commey’s solely probability, truthfully, is to catch Lomachenko, knock him on his behind and, and never let Loma stand up. He is obtained to knock him out. That is the one approach — he has a puncher’s probability, and that is it.
Commey will most likely get stopped loads ahead of Lopez will, due to the angles, due to the pace and due to how educated Lomachenko is. I take nothing away from Commey. He is a tricky, powerful man, however there are ranges to this sport, man. There’s ranges, and Lomachenko is on the elite stage. Commey is a good champion, however he is not elite.
Why are each of those matchups good for Lomachenko?
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Teofimo Lopez dazzles crowds with not solely his knockout finishes, however extravagant post-fight celebrations.
Bradley: I perceive that the Lopez camp, they could really feel a sure approach as a result of I am saying it, however from my expertise I am saying if Lopez would not repair that protection, he won’t final with Lomachenko. He’ll get peppered, and peppered, and peppered, till both his father throws within the towel, which he most likely by no means will, or the child will not even come out anymore, or he will get knocked out. He will get stopped, as a result of Loma goes to punish him. I am severe. He’ll punish him badly, due to all of the speaking that he is been doing.
And for Commey, he is like a robotic. He’ll come ahead, and he will struggle, and he solely is aware of methods to struggle a method. He would not know methods to struggle backing up. And as quickly as Lomachenko figures that out, which is able to take most likely a spherical or two, it will be over. He’ll begin taking Commey aside, setting him up repeatedly [to] stroll him into one thing.
May Lopez present you something towards Commey that may shift your opinion?
Bradley: If Lopez can tighten up his protection and he can come behind his jab, come behind an informed jab and begin organising his offense, then he may give Lomachenko one thing. Some kind of resistance, as a result of the child is highly effective, he’s younger, and now we all know he can go the gap, no downside. However that is what he will have to do. He’ll have to return to the drafting board, and I am undecided if his father did take him there. His father has embedded this type in him, which brought on tons of issues for him, getting hit with the correct hand over and over and over by a taller man.
So far as the Richard Commey struggle goes, I imply, Lopez can win that struggle. He is the extra athletic fighter. He is the extra skillful fighter. However there’s one factor that Richard Commey does very effectively. He has that grit, that willpower, and when he takes a licking he retains on ticking. Should you do not harm him, in the event you do not actually harm him, then he will take you out. He is obtained punching energy with each palms, and he is harmful throughout each second of a struggle.
Lopez must be on his A-game. If he is not on his A-game towards Commey, he will lose the struggle. Not simply lose it, he will get knocked out.