Martinez vs Lomachenko: Preview, Undercard, TV, Fight Time, Tale of the Tape

This weekend we’ve got another Junior Lightweight world title clash on our hands, and, while it isn’t expected to be another Fight of the Year candidate like Vargas vs Salido, it’s worthy of fight fan attention. Proven warrior Roman Martinez will be putting his WBO title on the line for the second time as he takes on uber-talented Vasyl Lomachenko at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

This will be the Ukrainian’s first encounter at 130 pounds, and would see him become a two-time world champion in only his seventh ring outing if he were to topple Martinez, a man who has done a fantastic job of transforming his audience appeal lately. Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KO) outfought Mexican hardman Orlando Salido in April last year, dropping Salido twice en route to acquiring his WBO strap. Martinez then fought to a questionable Draw (it was still a razor-thin contest, nonetheless) in their September rematch, allowing him to hold onto his world accolade.

While Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KO) is probably a fairly strong favorite to take the win on Saturday night, it’s not a foregone conclusion. Yes, Lomachenko is five years younger than Martinez, 33. Yes, he’s arguably the better all-round fighter. But it’s also true that Lomachenko has been pitted against pretty weak opposition (given his blue chip caliber) in his last three fights, with his only major victory coming against Gary Russell Jr in a 2014 fight which saw Lomachenko capture the vacant WBO Featherweight title.

That critique might sound a little harsh for a fighter who has only clocked up seven fights as a pro, but, you know, to claim Lomachenko is a no-questions-asked future ruler just yet seems a little premature right now. We’ll soon see.

Martinez vs Lomachenko: Fight Night Lowdown

TV, Fight Time & Undercard

The action will begin on Saturday, June 11th, with HBO and Boxnation broadcasting the card Live from Madison Square Garden, New York. Undercard action will see Martinez’s fellow countryman Felix Verdejo (21-0, 14 KO) continuing to edge toward title contention as he takes on Juan Jose Martinez (25-2, 17 KO) at Lightweight. The bout itself looks kinda showcase-y, but it’s still a chance to catch what could be a future major player doing his thing. I’m talking about Verdejo, of course. Former Amateur standout Zou Shiming will also be on the card as he looks to put himself back on the radar by defeating Jozsef Ajtai at Flyweight.

Roman Martinez vs Vasyl Lomachenko: Extended Tale of the Tape, Facts & Stats

Note: Advantageous stats are indicated in red (some may be subjective), and championship stats refer to ‘fully fledged world titles’ only.