Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Anthony Crolla: Fight time and viewing guide
Vasiliy Lomachenko is the highest regarded lightweight in the world and possibly the best pound-for-pound boxer. Anthony Crolla is his next test.
Vasiliy Lomachenko (12-1, 9 KOs) awed people with his destruction of Jorge Linares in May 2018. He was dropped in the process, but most saw it as a flash knockdown. His last performance against Jose Pedraza was commendable, yet unexciting. Lomachenko will look to prove that he’s still the best pound-for-pound boxer against England’s Anthony Crolla (34-6-2, 13 KOs) on Friday, April 12.
Lomachenko is Top Rank’s crown jewel. He’s a 31-year-old lightweight with arguably the best footwork, fastest hands and quickest reflexes in the game. He’s also a southpaw which aids in his ability to perplex his opponents.
Crolla is a fun fighter to watch because of his action style. He’s an offensive fighter who is willing to take chances, but he’s not much of a knockout puncher. Crolla has a 30 percent KO rating which is why he’s an enormous underdog. The Sportsbook Review details betting lines on Crolla anywhere from 16-1 to 40-1. To say that his chances of winning are limited would be an understatement.
Despite the odds against Crolla, he deserves respect. He held the WBA lightweight title from 2015 through part of 2016. He’s a world-class opponent who’s rated as the third-best lightweight in the world by Boxrec.com. It’s just that Lomachenko’s skills are at such a high level, that there’s not a single boxer in the division that poses much of a threat.
Lomachenko should win this matchup, but Crolla is in tremendous shape and his style will mesh well with Crolla’s. A slugfest should erupt around Round 4, and it will be a pleasing show for fight fans.
You can stream the fight live via ESPN+. The main cards are slated to go off at 11 PM ET, but the undercards will be streamed starting at 8 PM ET. The main undercard bout is between Gilberto Ramirez and Tommy Karpency. Ramirez is the WBC super middleweight champion, but he’s fighting as a light heavyweight for the first time.
- When: Friday, Apr. 12
- Where: Los Angeles, CA (Staples Center)
- Streaming: ESPN+
- Undercard Time: 8 PM ET
- Main Event Time: 11 PM ET
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If Crolla defeats Lomachenko, his victory would be the boxing upset of the year. He’s a former world champion and any boxer always has a puncher’s chance. Lomachenko’s WBA and WBO titles are on the line in what’s sure to be an entertaining contest.