Lomachenko could face Vetyeka or Selby in October or November

By Boxing News - 07/02/2015 - Comments

lomachenko99By Scott Gilfoid: WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2 KOs) will be back in action in October or November against possibly former WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka (27-3, 16 KOs) or IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (21-1, 8 KOs), according to Dan Rafael.

Egis Klimas, the manager for Lomachenko, would especially like to match Lomachenko up against the 28-year-old Selby, who stopped Evgeny Gradovich in the 8th round in their fight on May 30th. That was a cut stoppage, as Selby accidently bumped heads with Gradovich and opened up a big cut over his right eye.

Klimas says that Selby was pointing at him after his win over Gradovich, saying that he wants to fight Lomachenko. Klimas seems to have taken Selby seriously, not realizing that immediately after the fight, he started talking about wanting to defend his IBF title a couple of times before he looks to try and unify the featherweight titles.

“We’re looking at Vetyeka, a former champion, and maybe Selby in a unification fight,” Klimas said via ESPN.com. “Selby got a title from Gradovich and he was pointing to me after the fight saying he wants Lomachenko. We’ll see how strong his word is.”

I hope Klimas doesn’t hold his breath waiting for Selby to look to face Lomachenko, because I see that fight never happening. I literally don’t see Selby ever taking Lomachenko. I know Selby said he’d seek out the fight with Lomachenko after he slips in a couple of title defenses, but I don’t believe that for a second.

Selby is promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, and he’s often very careful with the opposition he matches against his fighters. Lomachenko would likely destroy Selby, and I believe that Hearn has to know that after seeing how good Lomachenko is. He’d obliterate Selby without any problems whatsoever.

The 34-year-old Vetyeka is a definite possibility for Lomachenko. I’m not sure if it’s a great fight, but it’s definitely possible. Vetyeka has fought only once since losing to Nonito Donaire in May of 2014 after the fight was halted in the 5th round due to Donaire complaining that he couldn’t see out of a cut over his left eye.

Lomachenko is coming off of a 9th round stoppage win over Gamalier Rodriguez last May. Before that, he defeated Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo by a 12 round decision last year in November. Lomachenko’s biggest win of his career was a 12 round decision win over Gary Russell Jr. in June of last year to win the vacant WBO World featherweight title.



Comments are closed.