Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux: Round by round results

Find out how the battle for boxing supremacy at 130 pounds went down with live round by round results from the Vasyl Lomachenko-Guillermo Rigondeaux fight from New York City.

Even though many casual fans still think of heavyweights or Floyd Mayweather when someone says boxing, it’s possible that the matchup between the two men highest up the list of top pound-for-pound boxers is taking place on ESPN instead of pay-per-view. Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux will collide for Lomachenko’s WBO junior lightweight title, but even more importantly, for the biggest win on either man’s illustrious pro resume to date.

Lomachenko has made an enormous impact in a very short time as a pro. The two-time Olympic gold medalist has only been a professional since the fall of 2013, but he’s already captured the imagination of many boxing pundits with an uncanny arsenal of tools. He entered Saturday night’s showdown at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on an eight-fight winning streak, all in world title fights and with the last six victories by knockout.

Not to be outdone, Rigondeaux also won a pair of Olympic gold medals while competing for his native Cuba. He’s never tasted defeat as a pro, going into the Lomachenko fight with a perfect 17-0 record (with one no decision due to an incorrect referee call). The intrigue for Rigondeaux will be how he handles going up from 122 to 130 pounds, as well as a relative lack of activity with just three fights in the last three years.

The tale of the tape shows that Lomachenko is taller, but Rigondeaux has the reach advantage. Rigondeaux is eight years older at 37.

Rigondeaux makes his ring walk first to “Paris” by Jay Z and Kanye West. Interestingly, he’s kind of cribbing his opponent’s colors with a yellow and blue robe. Or it could be purple.

Lomachenko’s robe design looks like it’s playing up his “Hi-Tech” nickname. Crowd doesn’t seem to be hugely in favor of one man or the other, but maybe that will be different when Michael Buffer makes the introductions.

Please bookmark this page and check back often for live round-by-round results from New York.

Round 1

Rigondeaux actually taking the lead, but mostly pawing with his jab. He fires some lefts that are mostly blocked. Both men touch the body briefly. Left just misses for Loma and he follows with a right hook. Short punches to the body both ways. Rigondeaux down really low in a shell as Lomachenko tries to come forward. he comes over the top with a left in the closing seconds.

FanSided scores it: 10-9 Lomachenko

Round 2

Similar start to Round 1 with Rigo the relative aggressor. Lomachenko gets a right hook around the tricky guard. The ref wants them to work out, but it’s some ugly grappling along the ropes. Quick jabs by Loma as he circles. Rigondeaux is surprised by a punch on what he thought was a break, but he’s doing most of the grabbing. Both fighters score with hooks on the inside, and the ref really wants them to work out of clinches. Rigondeaux does a little holding and hitting but also eats a shot back at the bell.

FanSided scores it: 10-9 Lomachenko, 20-18 Lomachenko after 2 rounds

Round 3

Jabs are thrown and mostly missed. Rigo is able to sneak in some light rights to the body. A left to the body lands as well, but he has to duck and hold to avoid an incoming flurry. More defense on display for Rigo as his opponent looks for that elusive head. Left uppercut by Lomachenko answered by a body shot. There’s a right uppercut by Loma that may have snuck through the guard. Close round but Loma threw the more dynamic stuff.

FanSided scores it: 10-9 Lomachenko, 30-27 Lomachenko after 3 rounds

Round 4

All of Rigo’s best shots have been tot he body, but he finally lands a hook or two in the opening 15 seconds. More insanely good head movement by Rigondeaux, but that’s not scoring any points. he tries an uppercut but Lona answers with a combo. Body shot by Rigondeaux that Lomachenko thinks is low. Nice one-two on the way in by Loma. Straight right by Lomachenko and he taunts Rigondeaux a bit.

FanSided scores it: 10-9 Lomachenko, 40-36 Lomachenko after 4 rounds

Round 5

Loma walks into some punches, but he’s trying to cut off the ring now. Both men just miss big shots before they pivot back to the center. Half the round gone and nothing big landed. The ref calls time to warn Rigo for punching on the break. Lomachenko throwing punches from weird angles, trying to find a home. Rigondeaux lands to the body but ends up in a bit of a headlock. Plenty of wrestling as the round ends.

FanSided scores it: 10-9 Lomachenko, 50-45 Lomachenko after 5 rounds

Round 6

Left to the body by Rigondeaux, then another. There comes a Lomachenko flurry, leaving Rigo no option but to turtle up. Somerabiit punches finally wake Rigondeaux up, but he still can’t find any sustained offense. The ref signals that he’s taking a point away from Rigondeaux, maybe for continued holding. He grabs again after getting whacked with a Loma left. An exchange right before the bell goes mostly for Lomachenko as well.

FanSided scores it: 10-8 Lomachenko, 60-53 Lomachenko after 6 rounds

There’s a discussion in Rigondeaux’s corner before Round 7, but it ends without the fighter coming out. Apparently Rigondeaux has a potential injury to the left hand, but the ESPN announcers are questioning his heart for not continuing.

The winner by TKO at the end of Round 6 … and still WBO super featherweight champion of the world … Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko.