Jorge Linares vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, was a professional boxing match contested on 12 May 2018, for the WBA and The Ring Lightweight championship.

[1] Following his 3rd title defence against Mercito Gesta in January 2018, WBA and The Ring lightweight champion Jorge Linares would name Mikey Garcia (who had previously refused to face Linares[2]) and Vasiliy Lomachenko as potential opponents, "You know what's nice?

"[3] On 30 January Top Rank's Bob Arum told ESPN that negotiations had begun in December 2017 for a fight between Linares and two-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko with the fight to take place on either 28 April or 12 May as the main event on an ESPN card.

We appreciate the work Top Rank did to put this fight together, and thanks to the television networks that helped make it happen.

I am looking forward to May 12 in New York to make my debut in the big arena at Madison Square Garden.

[9] On 28 March Linares' trainer Ismael Salas stated that he would likely not be in his corner for the fight due to scheduling conflicts as he was in London training David Haye for his rematch with Tony Bellew, which was set to take place a week before on 5 May.

Lomachenko would end the round by rocking Linares with a left hook seconds before the bell.

The challenger appeared to be on top in the 6th, before right at the very end of the round, a clean straight right hand right down the middle sent Lomachenko onto the canvas for the first time in his professional career.

The two continued to trade back and forth as Linares' eye worsened until the 10th when an uppercut midway through the round rocked the champion.