Ukrainian boxing great Vasyl Lomachenko is one of the most impressive talents of the modern era of boxing.
As a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, few boxers have as established of an amateur career as Lomachenko. Then, as a professional, ‘Loma’ has a catalog of great performances. This even includes Lomachenko pleading with his opponent’s corner to stop the fight.
Remarkably, it is understood that Lomachenko had an amateur record of 396-1. This would allow Lomachenko to begin his professional career with great experience already.
When he stepped into the ring as a professional for the first time, he had a dominant performance over Jose Luis Ramirez (25-3) to claim the WBO International Featherweight title in his debut.
In just his second bout, Lomachenko would get an opportunity to become a world champion. However, it would not be a history-making night for the established amateur.
Vasyl Lomachenko fell short in his first world title opportunity
Thanks to being such a decorated amateur, Lomachenko would remarkably get a world title opportunity in just his second professional fight in March 2014.
Claiming a world title in a second professional fight had never been done before. This meant that should the Ukrainian be successful, he would have made history. However, in his way was Orlando Salido.
The Mexican fighter had a record of 41-12-2 and was the holder of the WBO World Featherweight title. The champion did miss weight for his fight with Lomachenko however, meaning the 1-0 fighter was the only man who could walk away with the title.
It was not to be a historic night for Lomachenko. In his second outing, he would succumb to his first defeat. Losing the bout via split decision, the Ukrainian would not be able to beat the record set by Saensak Muangsurin.
The fighter from Thailand won the WBC World Super Lightweight title in just his third professional fight, in 1975. This was the shortest amount of professional appearances before winning a world championship.
However, Lomachenko would get some consolation in his third professional outing.
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Vasyl Lomachenko would win world title in third professional outing
Although Lomachenko had to narrowly miss out on a world title in his second professional fight, his third would have a better outcome for the fighter.
Three months after his loss to Salido, Lomachenko would take on Gary Allen Russell Jr. (24-0) in June 2014. The two would compete for the vacant WBO World Featherweight title after the belt was dropped by Salido for missing weight against Lomachenko.
Winning the bout via majority decision, ‘Loma’ would extend his professional record to 2-1, and was now a world champion. It also meant that the Ukrainian equaled Muangsurin’s record of winning a world championship in three professional fights.
Lomachenko would retain the title three times, before making a move to the super featherweight division.