The sporting world will come to a standstill in the early hours of Sunday morning this weekend as Vasyl Lomachenko and Jorge Linares face off in the Big Apple for one of the most exciting fights in recent memory.
Two of the pound-for-pound kings of boxing, this is a mouthwatering clash for fight fans across the globe and one which is rightly attracting attention from the wider public. A rare fight which pits the best against the best and it is going to be a night to saviour at the hallowed Madison Square Garden, which to many remains the mecca of the sweet science.
The two fighters have taken over New York this week and it is easy to understand why.
There is no need for trash talk when two fighters of this calibre come together with both men proven in and out of the ring. This is going to be a fight for the purist and one that will showcase the dazzling skills of two elite world champions willing to put their reputations on the line in a bid to be called the best in the lightweight division.
Politics in boxing is rife with many great fights falling by the wayside due to promotional issues but thankfully for fight fans those problems have been cast aside on this occasion. Golden Boy and Top Rank, who promote the two fighters, have managed to put aside their differences to make this one and fingers crossed it is a sign of the future in the sport.
Vasyl Lomachenko is already many people's idea of the best fighter on the planet and a victory on Saturday night will only further cement his place at the top of the sport. The Ukrainian was one of the greatest amateurs of all time, winning two Olympic gold medals in the process, and he has taken that talent and ripped up the pro ranks over the past couple of years.
Known as "Hi Tech", Lomachenko fought for a world title in just his second professional bout and although he narrowly lost that night to Orlando Salido, it served notice of his potential. Since then, the 30-year-old has won nine fights on the bounce against a world class fighters despite the fact he remains a relative novice when it comes to the professional game.
Two world titles at two different weights have already arrived and a win against Linares on Saturday night would see Lomachenko become a three-weight world champion in just his 12th pro bout. Wow.
The last four opponents to have stepped in the ring with the Ukrainian, all top level fighters in their own right, have each been made to quit by the dazzling footwork and hand speed of one of the most exciting fighters of the 21st century.
Step forward Jorge Linares...
The Mexican has made a name for himself over the past few years with a series of sensational displays which has seen him become one of the top dogs in the lightweight division. The 32-year-old has put together 13 wins in a-row since last tasting defeat and in particular during that time, he has ,made a name for himself in the UK.
Comfortable wins over Kevin Mitchell and Anthony Crolla away from home put his name into the headlines and a recent points win against Luke Campbell was another step on the road to this fight with Lomachenko.
Fight Prediction
Linares has grown into one of the premier fighters in the world and it should be noted that he is the one that goes into this fight as the world champion at this weight. The Mexican is on a roll and rightly can consider himself to be the toughest test of Lomachenko's career to-date.
That said, it is the Ukrainian who starts this fight as the hot favourite and you can see why.
A number of world class fighters have been nothing short of bamboozled by "Hi Tech" and despite yet another step up in weight division, it is impossible to look past the same outcome. Promoter Bob Arum has already suggested that Lomachenko could be the best fighter since Muhammad Ali and even if that is hyperbole in the extreme, it is a measure of how highly regarded he is to even be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest.
Expect Lomachenko to break down Linares with hand speed and footwork before taking him out in the later rounds.
Do not miss it.
