Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wants to finalize a potential lightweight unification fight between WBC champion Shakur Stevenson and Vasily Lomachenko.
Stevenson's contract expires after the July 6 fight, but Arum may be willing to extend it for additional fights against Top Rank if he is able to acquire Lomachenko.
He had been pushing for a fight against the Roma for years, but the interests of both sides were not aligned. It's unclear whether Lomachenko would be interested in fighting Shakur unless he can afford it.
First things first: Lomachenko vs. Kambosos.
If Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) wins the vacant IBF lightweight title against George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10 KOs) this Saturday in Perth, Australia, he could likely face Shakur. will be in a position. If he wins his next fight against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6th in Newark, New Jersey.
Lomachenko is expected to take control of Kambosos without any problems, but cannot make any controversial decisions. He hopes he doesn't get a decision like his last fight against Maxi Hughes in Kambosos last July, which was disturbing to watch.
Although Hughes had the upper hand, he found himself on the receiving end of a very questionable call against Kambosos on the A side.
Alm's vision
“If Lomachenko wins and Shakur, who is scheduled to fight in July, wins, we will have a Lomachenko vs. Shakur fight in the fall, but every avid boxing fan knows that two great technicians are fighting for a unified title. You're going to watch this fight in awe,” promoter Bob Arum told Sky Sports about his idea to have Vasily Lomachenko and Shakur Stevenson fight together.
“Let's wait and see. Kambosos is very good. He's not from Perth but it makes sense that he's playing on his home ground.”
Lomachenko might be better off fighting Emanuel Navarrete if he wins his fight. On May 18th, Dennis Belinczyk will fight for the vacant WBO lightweight title. A fight between Navarrete and Lomachenko will be a draw for Southern California fans.