Vasiliy Lomachenko could find himself on a thrilling collision course with Shakur Stevenson if he overcomes the challenge of George Kambosos Jr. on Saturday night, says Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.
Ukrainian star Lomachenko will travel down under to fight Kambosos for the IBF world lightweight title. The pair had previously been scheduled to face off for undisputed honors before Lomachenko decided to return to his homeland following the Russian invasion.
Lomachenko is coming off his controversial unanimous decision loss to Devin Haney last May, while Kambosos returned to winning ways after two losses to Haney in July when he defeated Maxi Hughes.
“Kambosos is a real threat. He can commit to a fight, he’s very talented, Lomachenko is super talented,” Arum told Sky Sports.
“But there’s his age again, especially in the lighter weight classes where age plays a bigger role than in the heavyweight classes.”
“But I hope Lomachenko is up to the challenge and wins the title because there’s no fighter I’d rather see than Lomachenko. He’s a really great technician.”
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Vasiliy Lomachenko had to work very hard as he defeated Jamaine Ortiz on points to set up a fight with undisputed champion Devin Haney next
Stevenson currently holds the WBC lightweight belt, Gervonta Davis is WBA champion, while the IBF, WBO and Ring titles remain vacant.
Stevenson has asserted himself as one of boxing’s most gifted superstars, compiling a professional record of 21-0 at age 26-0 and is on the verge of a potential mega-fight with Lomachenko.
Live fight night
Sunday, May 12, 3:00 a.m
“I have this other fighter, Shakur Stevenson, who is also a great technician,” Arum added.
“So if Lomachenko wins and Shakur, who is scheduled to fight in July, wins, then there will be a Lomachenko-Shakur fight in the fall, and every serious boxing fan will watch that in awe, with two great technicians fighting for a unified title.”
“Lets see what happens. Kambosos is very, very good. Even though he’s not from Perth, he’s fighting on home turf, which means something.”
“I’m looking forward to it, it will sell out in Perth.”
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Highlights from Shakur Stevenson’s win over Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas
Lomachenko’s clash with Kambosos Jr. is part of the May boxing festival. The month begins with undisputed world champion Naoya Inoue fighting Luis Nery in Japan before heading to Saudi Arabia to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion in Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
“My travel plan is Japan, Perth and then to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the Fury-Usyk fight and then to England for the Leeds fight with Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall and then back to Saudi Arabia for a great Artur fight .” Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol (in June) for the undisputed light heavyweight title and then back to New York to our great Puerto “The Rican Day parade show,” Arum said.
Watch Lauren Price challenge Jessica McCaskill in their first ever world title fight in Cardiff on Saturday May 11, live on Sky Sports; Vasiliy Lomachenko will then face George Kambosos Jr on Sunday, May 12th in Perth, Australia.