CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Five years ago, when I began interviewing Vasiliy Lomachenko, he explained what he wanted from boxing. It wasn't money, or to be found atop the pound-for-pound rankings (which, back then, he was). It wasn't titles -- or even that rare recognition that comes with being an undisputed champion in boxing's four-belt era. It was all of that -- and more. Much more.
"History," he said. "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."
In other words, he merely sought a place in the game's history alongside fighters such as Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali.