Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani

The pair share a common loss to Teófimo López. Lomachenko lost his unified titles to the American in October 2020, while Nakatani had also lost a unanimous decision to López in July 2019.[3] Lomachenko cited that he "still wanted to be undisputed lightweight champion". However, López declined to give Lomachenko a rematch, explaining that “everybody [in Lomachenko’s camp] was being a dick to me, my father. He [Lomachenko] didn’t want to put a rematch clause in our contract."[4] Speaking on why he chose Nakatani as his next opponent, Lomachenko said "I want to compare myself with this guy, he was close with [López] in their fight."[5]

Nakatani fought back from his loss to López, beating Félix Verdejo via technical knockout, after being dropped for the first time in his professional career.[6]

Lomachenko agreed to a comeback fight against Nakatani in Las Vegas.[7] The bout was aired on ESPN+ in the US[8] and Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.[9] It went head to head with Gervonta Davis' light welterweight clash with Mario Barrios on Showtime PPV in Atlanta, Georgia taking place on the same night.[10] The fight was only the second time in Lomachenko's professional career that a world title was not on the line.[11]

Lomachenko reasserted himself as one of the best at lightweight, as the former pound-for-pound star dropped Nakatani in the fifth, before stopping him in round nine. CompuBox stats show that Lomachenko landed 104 out of 214 punches (49%), while Nakatani landed 29 out of 250 (12%).

With the victory, Lomachenko earned the right to a potential rematch with López, a reward he has made no secret that he desperately seeks. "He has a fight in the future with [George] Kambosos, but after [we will fight]," Lomachenko said. "Maybe next year, beginning of the year. December, January, February. I am waiting." Lomachenko added: "Everybody saw how I won this fight, and everybody is waiting for the rematch, so let's make a rematch."[12]

Weight Class		vs.		Method	Round	Time	Notes
Lightweight	Vasiliy Lomachenko	def.	Masayoshi Nakatani	TKO	9/12	1:48
Middleweight	Janibek Alimkhanuly	def.	Rob Brant	RTD	8/10	3:00
Heavyweight	Guido Vianello	def.	Marlon Williams	TKO	2/4	0:01
Welterweight	Giovani Santillan	def.	Cecil McCalla	UD	8/8
Bantamweight	Luis Fernando Saavedra	def.	Robert Rodriguez	UD	6/6
Bantamweight	Floyd Diaz	def.	Jaime Jasso	UD	4/4
Super bantamweight	Subaru Murata	def.	Keven Monroy	TKO	2/4	1:42	Note 1
Lightweight	DeMichael Harris	def.	Jonatan Hernan Godoy	RTD	3/4	3:00

^Note 1 Murata's professional debut