The Cult of Lomachenko picked up a fresh crop of converts last night at the Madison Square Garden Theater in Manhattan, as the left uppercut/right hook combo which seperared Rocky Martinez from his senses and his title appeared as a thing of savage beauty to those attracted to such a style of combat.
The end for Rocky came when he signed on to fight the now 6-1 Lomachenko, tabbed by Roy Jones as the best active boxer on the planet right now. But the official end came at 1:09 of the fifth on HBO on a Top Rank promotion.
Martinez, out of Puerto Rico, dropped the WBO super feather title while slipping to 29-3-3.
We wonder what’s next for the Ukrainian wonder. Could he rematch Orlando Salido, who he lost to in his second pro bout? Salido was ringside and got an eyeful. Does he think Loma has improved since that second pro tangle? “Salido feels that Rocky was ripe for the picking,” Salido manager Sean Gibbons told me. “He feels that he has improved but he just moves in and out and Rocky fought a very bad style. Orlando would be on Loma like flies on poop. Styles make fights!”
So, do we see Lomachenko/Saludo 2 next? “We are not chasing Loma! Salido already beat him. We have unfinished business with Fernando Vargas,” Gibbons said, referring to the man who drew with Salido on June 4 and retained his WBC 130 strap.
“Salido wants his green belt!”
