The unconventional methods that have molded Vasyl Lomachenko into the “perfect boxer” have created a champion that we’ve never seen before. His world-class foot speed, Matrix-like moves, and Spidey-sense vision have made him arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, not just now, but perhaps ever. “I’ve never seen a fighter as technically perfect as him,” legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum told the BBC. “I am telling you without any reservation that Lomachenko is the greatest fighter I have seen since Muhammad Ali.”
The road to becoming a world champion in three weight classes (featherweight, junior lightweight, and lightweight) was paved by the Ukranian lightweight champion’s eccentric dad, Anatoly, an amateur boxer who strapped gloves on his son at three days old. That is just one of the legendary stories that make up the Tale of the Tape of Vasyl Lomachenko.
He’s a dancing machine
Lomachenko’s greatness stems not from his power but his precision. That superpower comes from his footwork, which has been called the greatest of any athlete today, including Lionel Messi or Roger Federer. Lomachenko’s fancy footwork was not developed inside the ring but on the dance floor. Anatoly told his young boxing prodigy that to take his fight game to the next level he needed to “shut up and dance.” The mad scientist/boxing trainer enrolled his son in Ukranian dance classes where he learned how to “Hopak.” By the time the dancing machine returned to the ring, he had the explosive quickness and agility that has made him the world-class champion that he is today.
His boxing manager started with pizza boxes
Every great boxer needs a good manager in their corner. Lomachenko has one of the best in the business in Egis Klimas. According to Sports Illustrated, the Russian immigrant’s first job in America was at Pizza Hut folding delivery boxes. One job led to another before the heady entrepreneur and lifelong boxing fan found himself managing a then-unknown Sergey Kovalev. That successful partnership led him to his biggest coup of all, Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic champ whom he helped win a world title in just his third pro bout. Now, that’s a quick delivery.
He’s not only ‘Fast and Furious’ in the ring
Lomachenko has the need for speed both inside and out of the ring. According to ESPN, the world champion is a huge fan of The Fast and the Furious film franchise, which could explain “his passion for “drifting in supercharged cars” (he owns a hollowed-out Nissan 240 SX and a Mercedes-AMG C63). Check out the Ukranian’s driving skills on full-display below. We sure hope Anatoly isn’t watching.
His mom was a judo champ
Anatoly may have taught Vasyl how to box but his fighting spirit may come from his mom, Tetiana. Ironically, Anatoly also had a hand in his wife’s combat sports background as he encouraged the former Ukranian gymnast to try judo, while the two were coeds at the State Pedagogical Institute in Odessa. After only a year of slipping into a judogi, Tetiana placed fourth in the Soviet judo championships.
He trains like a Russian Cosmonaut
Much of Lomachenko’s unorthodox pre-fight regimen make the Ivan Drago training montage in Rocky IV seem like a Pilates class. For decades, Anatoly has put his son through workouts that strengthened his body and mind. One of the psychological exercises uses a reaction timer and numerical charts that were used by USSR cosmonauts to train for outer space. Seeing the results now, no one can argue that there was a method to Anatoly’s madness.
He’s boxing’s Leonardo da Vinci
Lomachenko often refers to himself not as simply a boxer but an artist inside the ring. Top Rank’s Bob Arum agreed telling Sports Illustrated, “Watching him fight is like watching a fighter paint a great masterpiece.” So what will be the boxer-painter’s Mona Lisa? According to the champ, it’s “history” he’s chasing. “If, in 10 years, or 20 or 30 years, you sit down with your friends and talk about boxing, you need to remember my name,” Lomachenko told ESPN of his career goals.
