NYC Public Workout Report: LOMA Does NOT Think Linares Will Be Easy Work

Flash back to November of 2015. This was back before Vasyl Lomachenko was regarded as the top pound for pound boxer on the planet. Back then, he was campaigning at 126 pounds. Fast forward to here, and now, and picture the scene outside Madison Square Garden, outside a Penn Station exit, where a ring was set up under the most gorgeous weather scene the mutts in Southern California enjoy all the time, but we East Coasters have to beg and plead for.

Wednesday afternoon, Lomachenko had a cluster of boxing media around him, as his manager, Egis Klimas, gamely fielded queries, fed them to Loma, and re-gurgitated them back to press.

Today, Loma is seen by most but not all as the top pound for pounder on this Earth, and he’s also hopped up two weight classes. 130, bye bye, on Saturday night he will be a lightweight, and will see how he handles the leap. Better, we expect, than Guillermo Rigondeaux did when he fought Loma at the MSG Theater in December, and was an easy work victim of the Ukrainian fistic wiz. Rigo was a super bantam, and skipped over 126 to meet Loma at super feather. Didn’t go well; Rigo hasn’t been seen or heard from in the pro boxing realm and that reminds me, should we put out an APB for the Cuban?

I posed it to Loma…are my expectations of his skills set so high, that I mistakenly think his fight will be easy work? “I already proved where I am, I am planning to be for a long time at the same level, so I’m not planning to slow down,” he said. And is Linares maybe the best Loma has faced, does he think, right now, on paper? “He’s one of the best at that weigh category, the champion of the WBA, at that weight class. Will it be easy work? No, I don’t think it’s gonna be easy work.”

He expects to win, though, make no mistake. This guy is as confident as any working the squared circle right now. So, yes, he’d like to tango with Mikey garcia…but first, let’s get through Saturday, he told us.

Here is the release Top Rank sent out. Their bossman Bob Arum, who went on the Everlast “Talkbox” podcast Tuesday, had a front row seat for the workout, which featured other hitters taking part in the promotion.

New York City (May 9, 2018) – Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jorge Linares took their talents to the streets of Manhattan on Wednesday, as they participated in an open workout on the corner of 33rd Street and 8th Avenue, just outside Madison Square Garden.

Lomachenko, a two-weight world champion, is looking to conquer a third weight class when he challenges WBA/Ring Magazine lightweight champion Jorge Linares on Saturday at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

Linares vs. Lomachenko headlines an evening of world-class action, as welterweight contender Carlos Adames will take on savvy veteran Alejandro Barrera in the 10-round co-feature.

Appearing on the undercard will be Irish sensation Michael Conlan in an eight-round featherweight bout against once-beaten Ibon Larrinaga, 2016 U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer in a six-round lightweight contest against Baby Nansen, and Brooklyn native Teofimo Lopez against Vitor Freitas in an eight-round lightweight bout.

This is what the fighters had to say.

Jorge Linares

“I am hungry to win and to continue with my reign as world champion. This is a high-level fight and a very important one for my career because I am going to prove that Lomachenko is not an invincible fighter. We will see what he is really made of when he faces me this Saturday. I believe in myself and I know that I will come out with the victory. I am here to win. I did not come here to quit.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“I want to put my name in the history of boxing, and this is one of the steps I have to take, to fight in different weight classes, different titles. That’s what will put my name in the history of boxing.”

“I don’t know what Linares will bring. After the fight, I can compare him with Rigondeaux.”

“I already proved where I am, and I plan on being at the top of the sport for a very long time. I do not plan on slowing down.”

“Linares is one of the best fighters in his weight class. I don’t think it’s going to be easy work.”

Carlos Adames

“This Saturday, the fans will all talk about ‘Caballo Bronco’. This will be the first step towards a world championship opportunity and also the first step on my way to becoming the new face of boxing in the Dominican Republic. I have the talent, the mentality and the dedication to represent my country with dignity. That’s why I’m going to give my best and leave everything in the ring to give the fans a good show”

Mikaela Mayer

“I love that Top Rank is putting me on big cards and exposing women’s boxing a bigger audience. There’s definitely an increased interest in women’s boxing, and I am proud to be part of that.”

“Do I want a knockout? Of course. I want the fans to see that women can be in exciting fights and score knockouts.”

“If Nansen wants to come at me, I’m going to be ready for it. I’m ready for anything.”

Michael Conlan

“Madison Square Garden is my home away from home, and I can’t wait to put on a great show for the New York fans. This is going to be a great night of boxing.”

Teofimo Lopez

“This is my third time fighting at Madison Square Garden, and we know what happened last time I fought here. I knocked out the guy {Ronald Rivas} with one shot. One left hook, and he was out.”

“I believe in my God-given talent. Shout out to New York City. I’m from Brooklyn, and I look forward to  showing up and feeling the love from my hometown fans.”

“Big things are coming. I love big cards like this. The more people I see out there, the more pumped up I get. Look out for the knockout because it’s coming.