WATCH: Vasyl Lomachenko faces world media for first time since Teofimo Lopez undisputed title defeat

Lomachenko ready to use fans to inspire Nakatani victory

Former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko is ready for the next chapter. Eight months after losing an undisputed lightweight title match to Teofimo Lopez, "Loma" returns Saturday night in a 12-round lightweight bout against Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Both fights will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with undercard bouts set to begin on ESPN+ at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT.

Lomachenko spoke to the media ahead of his return to the ring on Saturday night from the press conference:

He said: "I can’t wait to be back in the ring. I’m very excited and I want to show my best skills. I want to prove to myself, my family, my friends, my team, who I am in the ring.

“He is a tough guy. He has the height and the reach. I think he is a very good boxer. That’s why he was my choice as an opponent. “It’s great to have fans {in the crowd}. They push us in the ring. They give us energy. “I have a fight this Saturday, and after that, we can talk about a rematch. I want it!."

Here is the full Top Rank card ahead of the return of the Ukranian lightweight:

ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Masayoshi Nakatani, 12 rounds, lightweight Janibek Alimkhanuly vs. Rob Brant, 10 rounds, Alimkhanuly's WBO Global and WBC Continental Americas Middleweight Titles

ESPN+, 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. PT Giovani Santillan vs . Cecil McCalla , 10/8 rounds, welterweight Robert Rodriguez vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra, 6 rounds, bantamweight Guido Vianello vs. Marlon Williams, 4 rounds, heavyweight Floyd Diaz vs. Jaime Jasso, 4 rounds, bantamweight Subaru Murata vs. Keven Monroy, 4 rounds, junior featherweight DeMichael Harris vs. Jonatan Hernan Godoy, 4 rounds, lightweight

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