Teofimo Lopez 'ready to take over the world' after stuning Vasiliy Lomachenko

Unbeaten American defended his 135-pound IBF lightweight title and seized the WBC, WBO and WBA belts from Ukraine's Lomachenko

Teofimo Lopez Jr, right, punches Vasiliy Lomachenko during their lightweight unification bout at MGM Grand Las Vegas Conference Center. Lopez won the fight by unanimous decision. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr, right, punches Vasiliy Lomachenko. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr, right, lands an uppercut on Vasiliy Lomachenko. Getty Images

Vasiliy Lomachenko punches Teofimo Lopez Jr. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr, left, goes on the attack. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr celebrates after defeating Vasiliy Lomachenko. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr celebrates. Getty Images

Teofimo Lopez Jr with his hand raised in victory. Getty Images

Unbeaten Teofimo Lopez beat Vasiliy Lomachenko by a unanimous decision in Las Vegas on Saturday to become the undisputed world lightweight champion.

Lopez defended his 135-pound IBF lightweight title and seized the WBC, WBO and WBA belts from Ukraine's Lomachenko who suffered his first loss in six years.

"I am ready to take over the world," said Lopez, who won by scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112.

Lopez, 16-0 with 12 knockouts, became the lightweight king in a fight that appeared to be closer than the lopsided judges' scorecards indicated at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

In the biggest fight of his career, Lopez, of the US, dominated the first half before Lomachenko came storming back in the later rounds to set the stage for a thrilling final round.

At 23, Lopez is the youngest fighter to become a four-belt undisputed champion. He did it in an empty MGM arena where spectators were banned because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lopez received a nasty cut over the right eye from an accidental head butt in the final round but was able to continue.

Lomachenko, defending for the fourth time the title he took from Venezuelan Jorge Linares in 2018, bristled at the decision and immediately left the ring after the scores were announced.

"I think I won the fight," said Lomachenko. "But I am not going to argue it now.

"In the first half of the fight he won more rounds. In the second half I took it over. I don't agree with the scorecards. "

Lomachenko dropped to 14-2 with 10 knockouts. He was coming off a unanimous decision victory over English southpaw Luke Campbell last August in London.