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Vasyl Lomachenko V Manny Pacquiao: “The Locomotive Train”

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Vasyl Lomachenko V Manny Pacquiao: “The Locomotive Train”

cra·zy
ˈkrāzē/

1. mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.

“Manny Pacquiao went crazy and signed to fight Vasyl Lomachenko.”

synonyms: mad, insane, out of one's mind, deranged, demented, not in one's right mind, crazed, lunatic, unhinged, mad as a hatter, mad AF

2. 
extremely enthusiastic.

Manny Pacquiao is my favorite fighter of all-time.

As controversial as it may be in 2018, I greatly admire him as an imagined man of principle from afar, with the belief that he's of extreme integrity up close. He's been nothing short of a Filipino Luke Skywalker to me… Hell, I even watched the dreadful “Wapakman,” twice, and enjoyed listening to him sing very badly during what became traditional appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live as the world's best fighter.

Somewhere around mid-2012, I came to a depressed realization that he “was” the pound-for-pound best. After losing a hotly debated congressional hearing with Timothy Bradley, “Pac-Man” was violently veto'd by a bill about to be killed in Juan Manual Marquez. The politically correct rendering of Pacquiao was unveiled against Brandon Rios, only to resurface against Timothy Bradley, again, before a more malevolent version hung Chris Algieri over the Great Wall of China.

Vasyl Lomachenko, the best fighter in the world, saw Pacquiao that night and sneered.

At once a 25 year-old 1-1 professional after getting a bachelor's degree in engineering from Orlando Salido, Loma earned a master's over Gary Russell Jr in just his next fight. On this night in China, Lomachenko embarrassed a proud 51-1 Suriya Tatakhun to earn a PhD. After that, he moved on to Physics. He had no regard for politics and had Pacquiao down to a science– then.

You really don't want to know what he'd do to Pacquiao now because… I don't want to write it.

Talks of Lomachenko V Pacquiao started bouncing around this fight week of Errol Spence Jr V Lamont Peterson in a very serious way. Longtime Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz indicated to NY Fights editor/publisher Michael Woods, that Pac V Loma would be crack at 140. I just hope its a pipedream. Then again, boxing has this kind of tradition.

If Floyd Mayweather were to follow it, he'd get Errol Spence'd the way Sugar Ray Leonard got Terry Norris'd. Because Pernell Whitaker followed it, he got Tito'd. Smith happened to Bernard Hopkins and Glen Johnson'd Roy Jones. Julio Cesar Chavez was turned into absolute copper by the Golden Boy; just as Oscar De La Hoya was completely gobbled up by Pac-Man.

At age 39 and 59-7-2 (38KOs), Pacquiao, near the end of his train ride, is somewhere between a very upgraded Henry Armstrong and demonstrably better than the Aaron Pryor being treated like a junkie by Bobby Joe Young. That still beats a lot of quality fighters. Pacquiao's remaining skill set is still world-class enough to beat Danny “Swift” Garcia, Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter, Adrien Broner or Lamont Peterson.

However, Lomachenko, still settling into his seat on the same train, is a multidimensional, science fiction rendition of Nicolino Locche in an aggressive jazz ensemble. Loma would simplify Pacquiao, turning any Calculus into 1+2, 3 and 4 with pace. The neo-nomasman would not make Pacquiao quit, but he would force the conductor to throw him off the train.

A malfunctioned and badly damaged Pac-Man machine would read “Game Over” with a high score under Hi-Tech.

Senior correspondent for NY Fights and author of upcoming book, "The Fist Club." Conscious indie recording artist "T@z" and humanist advocate for the Green Party.