He's Back: Vasiliy Lomachenko Returns Saturday Night Against Masayoshi Nakatani in Lightweight Main Event
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 Jun 2021
LAS VEGAS (June 24, 2021) — Former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for the next chapter. Eight months after losing an undisputed lightweight title match to Teofimo Lopez, "Loma" returns Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout against Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
In the 10-round middleweight co-feature, undefeated sensation Janibek "Qazaq Style" Alimkhanuly will fight former world champion Rob "Bravo" Brant.
Both fights will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with undercard bouts set to begin on ESPN+ at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT.
At the final press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
Vasiliy Lomachenko
“I can’t wait to be back in the ring. I’m very excited and I want to show my best skills. I want to prove to myself, my family, my friends, my team, who I am in the ring.”
“He is a tough guy. He has the height and the reach. I think he is a very good boxer. That’s why he was my choice as an opponent.”
“It’s great to have fans {in the crowd}. They push us in the ring. They give us energy.”
“I have a fight this Saturday, and after that, we can talk about a rematch. I want it!”
Masayoshi Nakatani
“A fellow Japanese fighter {Inoue last week} having a great performance is very motivating for me.”
“This is a fight that I have to win and that I want to win.”
“When this fight came up, I felt that it is the biggest fight of my career. But getting the fight doesn’t mean anything. I must win for this fight to mean something. I’m going to win!”
Rob Brant
“I’m feeling amazing. It’s never a surprise being the underdog. I’m looking forward to it. You have to take the risks. I have no problem with being the underdog.”
“I learned a lot of patience and guidance from my trainer, {Brian} 'BoMac' McIntyre. I have always been known as a high-volume boxer, but with BoMac I have learned and developed a lot of the patience.”
“This is Top Rank. Everyone wants to be at the highest level, and I want to prove that I belong here. My focus is 100 percent on beating Janibek on Saturday.”
Janibek Alimkhanuly
“This fight is very important for me. I’m 100 percent ready, and Saturday night I’m going to show what 'Qazaq Style' is all about. Very soon I’ll be fighting as the main event.”
“Three years ago, I started training with Buddy McGirt. I like him a lot. He is looking to add more tools to the style that I already have. We are already looking to win a world title together.”
SATURDAY, June 26, 2021
ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani, 12 rounds, lightweight
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Rob Brant, 10 rounds, Alimkhanuly's WBO Global and WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Titles
ESPN+, 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT
Giovani Santillan vs. Cecil McCalla, 10/8 rounds, welterweight
Robert Rodriguez vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra, 6 rounds, bantamweight
Guido Vianello vs. Marlon Williams, 4 rounds, heavyweight
Floyd Diaz vs. Jaime Jasso, 4 rounds, bantamweight
Subaru Murata vs. Keven Monroy, 4 rounds, junior featherweight
DeMichael Harris vs. Jonatan Hernan Godoy, 4 rounds, lightweight
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Armand Rebojo KOs Watcharin Buachroen in 2
Sat, 20 Apr 2024Jayson Vayson, Takeru Inoue Make Weight for WBO Asia Pacific Rumble in Osaka
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 20 Apr 2024Miami Frustrates Chicago Again, Nails 8th Seed in the East; Pelicans Eliminate Kings for 8th in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 20 Apr 2024RYAN GARCIA'S UNDERDOG CHANCES
By Anthony 'Duljoman' Andales, Sat, 20 Apr 2024Cutiyog powers 3-gold and 1 silver in chess at Palaro
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 20 Apr 2024Promising Pinoy Boxer Armand Rebojo Sees Action Tonight in Melbourne
Sat, 20 Apr 2024FIGHTER INJURIES FORCE POSTPONEMENT OF “QUEST FOR THE BEST” CARD SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH
Sat, 20 Apr 2024Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia: Ready or Not
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 20 Apr 2024Ryan Garcia Misses Weight for Haney Fight
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 20 Apr 2024Golden plans to celebrate Thrilla
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 20 Apr 202423-Time National Amateur Champion Nathan Lugo Makes Pro Debut Tonight in Atlanta
Sat, 20 Apr 2024ALA keeps on punchin’
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 19 Apr 2024Biggest Gainers, Losers in the East
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 19 Apr 2024WBC Presents "Tamaulipas" Belt to Canelo-Munguia on May 4
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 19 Apr 2024Ronny Rios Fighting For Final Chapter In Boxing Career
Fri, 19 Apr 2024