By Steve Kim
So is a showdown between a pair of two-time Olympic gold medalists, Vasyl Lomachenko and Guillermo Rigondeaux on the horizon?
There has been more than a fair share of barking between the two camps on social media the past several weeks. Now it looks like some real progress has been made to actually get the two world champions in the ring together.
"We've had very good negotiations," said Bob Arum, who's company Top Rank, represents Lomachenko (the current WBO 130-pound titlist). "Dino (Duva) and myself have gone back and forth, we're circulating documents now and hopefully it'll all get signed up. Is it done, yet? No. But you can't help but be optimistic it's going to get done."
Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs), who is the WBA 122-pound champion, is promoted by Roc Nation Sports.
Back on August 5th, Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) dominated Miguel Marriaga at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, while Rigondeaux had a no-contest against Moises Flores on June 17th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The plan according to Arum is to have Lomachenko-Rigondeaux take place on December 9th at the Theater of Madison Square Garden in New York on ESPN. It looks like this fight will be contested at 130 pounds - with Rigondeaux ** good on his promise to move up by two weight divisions to take the fight.
Rigondeaux's last outing took place on HBO Pay-Per-View as part of the Ward-Kovalev II undercard, when he scored a controversial first round knockout of Moises Flores. The outcome was later reversed to a no-decision, after the Nevada State Athletic Commission had ruled that Rigondeaux has inadvertently hit Flores after the bell. The WBA ordered him to have an immediate rematch With Flores, but he will likely seek special permission to take the Lomachenko bout.
2023-10-19 06:59:03
