2-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Lomachenko to Make Pro Debut

           LAS VEGAS, NEV. (August 21, 2013) — Two-time Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist VASYL “The Great” LOMACHENKO will jump into the deep end of boxing’s international-sized swimming pool when he makes his professional debut in a 10-round featherweight bout against Jonathan Oquendo (23-3, 16 KOs), of Puerto Rico. Lomachenko’s pro debut will be showcased on the pay-per-view undercard of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight championship between undefeated defending champion TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY, JR. and four-division world champion and Méxican icon JUAN MANUEL “Dinamita” MÁRQUEZ, the only two fighters to defeat Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao in the last seven years.

“Lomachenko must have a lot of confidence making his professional debut against a fighter like me.  He must think he’s really good. Let’s see what happens in the ring,” said Oquendo.

“Vasyl ‘The Great’ Lomachenko has been the most outstanding boxer in the history of amateur boxing, now we will see if he can become the greatest professional boxer of this era,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

            Promoted by Top Rank^®, in association with Zanfer Promotions, Wynn Las Vegas, Márquez Boxing, and Tecate, Bradley vs. Márquez will take place Saturday, October 12, at the Thomas & Mack Center, on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

            Lomachenko first gained international renown by winning gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games as a featherweight and lightweight, respectively.  Known for his all-out aggressive style of boxing, Lomachenko is equally aggressive in plotting his professional boxing plan to a world title where he insisted on making his pro debut in a 10-round bout against a seasoned veteran where a victory could propel him to a Top-10 world rating. He certainly has that in Oquendo whose seven of his last eight victories have been by knockout.

            Remaining tickets to the Bradley vs. Márquez welterweight championship event, priced at $800, $600, $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, online at UNLVtickets.com, at UNLVtickets Outlet Town Square Las Vegas Concierge, or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267).