Pajo Hyland reveals Lomachenko fight offer

Patrick Hyland has revealed he turned down the chance to face a fighter most already believe is one of the greatest of all time.

In the wake of Vasiliy Lomachenko’s victory over Luke Campbell in the O2 Arena last night, ‘Pajo’ explained how he was once offered the chance to fight the ‘Matrix’ .

Some time after the Tallaght fighter had suffered his first career defeat – inflicted on him by now former world champion Javier Fortuna at the MGM Grand in December 2012 – Top Rank came calling. 

Team Lomachenko wanted ‘The Punisher’ to provide opposition for the supreme talent and two time Olympic gold medal winner’s debut.

Hyland was going through somewhat of a sabbatical at the time and despite expressing an interest in the clash previously, he turned down the chance with an abrupt ‘F off’.

The Jobstown puncher, who currently trains young amateurs at the Hyland Boxing Academy, felt the offer made was well below what the fight was worth.

Hyland believes Top Rank made the offer assuming he may have been unaware of the now Pound for Pound stars background and talent, but the middle of three boxing brothers is well versed on all things boxing be them amateur or pro.

On social media not long after Lomachenko moved to within one win of undisputed lightweight status, Hyland explained.

“Quick story no one knows after Fortuna fight I lost for WBA my 28 fight! Was offer #lomachenko on his debut thinking I didn’t know him or how good he was was offered small but ok money told them to F off haha great team decision.”

Quick story no one knows after Fortuna fight I lost for WBA my 28 fight! Was offer #lomachenko on his debut thinking I didn’t know him or how good he was ☺️ was offered small but ok money told them to F off haha great team decision

— Patrick Hyland (@Pajpunisher) August 31, 2019

Irish boxing is littered with such stories, indeed Anthony Fitzgerald was once offered the chance to fight Gennady Golovkin early in the Kazakh’s carreer. The Dubliner accepted a $15,000 dollar purse, but the fight never materialized.