Vasiliy Lomachenko is on a quest to regain the unified lightweight world titles that he once donned.
The first step in that process begins Saturday night, when the former world champ faces Masayoshi Nakatani in a pivotal lightweight tilt live from the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
This marks Lomachenko's first bout since he lost the WBA (Super), WBO, and The Ring lightweight titles to Teofimo Lopez via unanimous decision back in October. After mentally hurdling that decision, Loma has been raring to go.
“I can’t wait to be back in the ring," Lomachenko said during the press conference earlier in the week. "I’m very excited and I want to show my best skills. I want to prove to myself, my family, my friends, my team, who I am in the ring.”
Well, for what it's worth, the 33-year-old Ukrainian certainly didn't select an easy rebound in Nakatani, who he surrenders 4.5 inches in height and 5.5 inches in reach to.
“He is a tough guy," Loma said of the Japanese fighter. "He has the height and the reach. I think he is a very good boxer. That’s why he was my choice as an opponent.”
Plus, Lomachenko wants to prove that he can defeat Nakatani more definitively than Lopez did in July 2019, when he scored a unanimous decision win over the Japanese fighter.
Nakatani wants to deliver under pressure of fighting on his grandest stage yet.
“When this fight came up, I felt that it is the biggest fight of my career," Nakatani offered. "But getting the fight doesn’t mean anything. I must win for this fight to mean something. I’m going to win!”
Here's everything you need to know about watching Lomachenko vs. Nakatani.
When is Lomachenko vs. Nakatani? Date, start time
- Date: Saturday, June 26
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST
- Main event: 11 p.m. ET/4 a.m. BST
The Lomachenko vs. Nakatani main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST, with the headliners expected to make their ring walks around 11 p.m. ET/4 a.m. BST for this highly-anticipated lightweight tilt.
What channel/stream is Lomachenko vs. Nakatani?
- US: ESPN+
- UK: Sky Sports
You can live stream Lomachenko vs. Nakatani via ESPN+ exclusively in the United States. Sky Sports will be showing the Loma-Nakatani main card in the United Kingdom.
Where is the Lomachenko vs. Nakatani fight?
The card will take place at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Neither Loma or Nakatani are strangers to fighting in Las Vegas, but this bout marks each boxer's first appearance at this particular venue. This fight will also be Nakatani's third bout in the U.S.
Vasiliy Lomachenko record and bio
- Nationality: Ukrainian
- Born: Feb. 17, 1988
- Height: 5-7
- Reach: 65 1/2 inches
- Total Fights: 16
- Record: 14-2 with 10 KOs
Masayoshi Nakatani record and bio
- Nationality: Japanese
- Born: March 8, 1989
- Height: 5-11 1/2
- Reach: 71 inches
- Total Fights: 20
- Record: 19-1 with 13 KOs
Lomachenko vs. Nakatani Fight Card
- Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani; Lightweights
- Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Rob Brant; Middleweights