Vasyl Lomanchenko, painted as boxing’s Picasso, pursues second title

Vasyl Lomachenko sat close to ringside Saturday night at StubHub Center, watching the riveting action of super-featherweight champion Francisco Vargas’ majority draw against Mexican countryman Orlando Salido.

Knowing something about the way Lomachenko thinks following an extended conversation at his training home in Ventura County last week, the two-time Olympic gold-medalist from the Ukraine certainly believes he can top that.

“Not only do I think he’s the most talented fighter in the world, next to Ali, he’s the most technically talented fighter I’ve ever seen,” said Lomachenko’s 50-years-long boxing promoter Bob Arum.

Lomachenko, 28, on Saturday night will attempt to become the first boxer to win two weight-class belts in his first seven pro fights when he meets Puerto Rico’s World Boxing Organization super-featherweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-3, 17 knockouts) in an HBO fight at Madison Square Garden’s Theater.

A relentless puncher with sophisticated defensive awareness, Lomachenko also possesses rare confidence.

For instance, when potential opponent Nicholas Walters dragged his feet about accepting a fight, Lomachenko boldly proposed a financial arrangement not seen in the game.

“If Walters won, I would’ve given him $300,000 of my purse,” which was believed to be in the $800,000 range, Lomachenko said.

Walters didn’t bite, but Martinez did, surprising one official at Arum’s Top Rank promotional company that has struggled to find willing participants for Lomachenko.

“Maybe Martinez has never seen him,” the official said, chuckling.

Arum won the promotional bidding war to land Lomachenko by embracing the fighter’s confidence. When Lomacheno was making the rounds after winning gold in 2012, he let it be known he wanted to work with a promoter who could make his first pro fight for a world title.

Arum explained state commissions would be leery to allow that until they see at least one fight, but Lomachenko manager Egis Klimas said: “You could see Bob’s brilliant mind at play, spinning like a wheel, and he said, ‘We can do it. I’ll get you the title shot in your second fight.’”

Done deal.

That 2014 match, against Salido, was tainted by Salido missing weight and leaning on the advantage to win a split-decision in San Antonio.

Salido met with Lomachenko Saturday in the dressing room before he and Vargas set a super-featherweight record for punches thrown in a fight and previously said he planned to trek to New York to watch Lomachenko’s fight and propose a rematch.

But Salido’s manager, Sean Gibbons, said after the gripping outcome of the Vargas bout that Salido’s primary interest is in a rematch with Vargas.

Three months after that Salido loss, Lomachenko came to StubHub Center and won the vacant WBO belt while handing Gary Russell Jr. his first loss by a majority decision triumph that was more convincing than the scores.

Three title defenses later, Arum is working hard to increase U.S. interest in Lomachenko.

“He has incredible balance, an incredible judge of distance,” Arum said. “He can land punches in areas where it looks like he’s exposing himself to being hit. He’s not. He’s out of danger. I truly appreciate what an art form great boxing is, and Lomachenko is the epitome.

“My wish is for people to watch fights with that appreciation. Nobody around can do it like him. The closest is Mayweather. For me, I now know what it must’ve been like for Picasso to introduce his paintings at his first show.

“You might not have full appreciation for them at first, but after awhile you do. Same with Lomachenko. I just have to get people to appreciate his artistic method. By everyone knowing what they’re seeing, he’ll be a big star.”

Lomachenko (5-1, three KOs) said: “I try to paint in the ring. I want to show fans in one fight you can do everything. You can throw punches, throw combinations, you can defend, you can move, feint your opponent, the tricks. I need big bouts to prove that.”

Lomachenko established those skills in his amateur work, adding his “instinct” is also at play.

“Floyd Mayweather said the most important thing in boxing is defense,” Lomachenko said in Russian, with Klimas interpreting. “I agree with him. I want to finish my boxing career healthy, and not get hit.”

The difference is that Lomachenko liberally lets punches fly.

“Mayweather, if you go back years ago, he was an aggressive boxer. The problem when you’re aggressive is that your opponent will land something on you. Mayweather, what he started doing, was work on defense to just win the bouts, not taking the chances and risks. That’s where he went … .”

Klimas asked Lomachenko if that’s where his career is headed, too, and the boxer was quick to respond, “No, no, no.

“Like Bob was saying about Picasso giving his paintings away, I came here because I wanted to be known in boxing. I wanted to be in that same light as Mayweather, Pacquiao, Tyson … I want to be a legend.”