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Former three division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is looking for payback.
Returning for the first time since last October’s twelve round decision loss to Teofimo Lopez, Lomachenko beat down and stopped Nakatani in the ninth round of a lightweight main event Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
“In case there was any doubt, Lomachenko proved he is still one of the very best fighters in the world. He is healthy and ready to fight any of the lightweights,” said Lomachenko’s promoter, Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum.
Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) faced a hint of adversity when a headbutt opened up a cut in the opening round, but that would be the extent of his troubles.
It was one-way traffic throughout, as Nakatani (19-2, 13 KOs) showed an incredibly sturdy chin but little in the way of offense.
In the fifth round, Lomachenko floored Nakatani with a left-right combination and proceeded to lay a savage beating on his Japanese opponent. The end came in the ninth round when Celestino Ruiz called an end to the carnage.
Lomachenko is now looking to get Lopez in the ring.
However, Lopez has a mandatory defense scheduled with George Kambosos. The fight is on track for August 14, but it may get pushed back to September 11.
Lomachenko is ready to face him in the aftermath.
“I’m happy because I won. All the strategies that we developed with my team [worked]. I reached all my goals. I won and now I’m back on track,” Lomachenko said.
“Everybody saw how I won this fight, and everybody is waiting for the rematch [with Lopez], so let’s make a rematch.
“He has a fight in the future with Kambosos, but how about after, in the beginning of next year? December, January, February, I am waiting.”