Bob Arum, the promoter, is exploring three potential options for Vasily Lomachenko’s upcoming bout following his win against George Kambosos Jr. in Perth, Australia.
The three fighters mentioned by Arum as potential opponents for IBF lightweight champion Lomachenko are:
- Gervonta Davis
- Shakur Stevenson
- Emanuel Navarrete
Arum’s Favorite Choice: Shakur Stevenson
Arum seems inclined towards arranging a match between Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) and WBC lightweight champion Shakur. The preference for this choice is evident because Shakur’s contract with Top Rank ends on July 6th after his fight against Artem Harutyunyan.
Considerations include contractual matters, retaining the title, and long-term consequences.
If Lomachenko faces Shakur, he might decide to extend his contract with Top Rank. This would ensure that the titles stay with Top Rank post-fight, rather than potentially transferring to PBC if Lomachenko were to lose in a fight against WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.
If PBC were to gain the IBF title from Lomachenko, it could be quite a process for a Top Rank fighter to regain the belt. This is assuming that Tank Davis chooses to hold onto the title rather than relinquishing it to avoid additional fees.
The Objective: Unifying the Championship Belts
During the post-fight press conference, promoter Bob Arum discussed the aim of unifying all four belts in the sport while talking about Vasily Lomachenko’s future fights after defeating George Kambosos Jr.
Arum also highlighted other potential opponents for Lomachenko, such as Navarrete and various fighters scheduled for upcoming matches.
