By Allan Fox: Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe says former super featherweight champion Geronta Davis could meet Vasyl Lomachenko inside the ring in the future, but if it doesn’t happen, then he’s still going to be the biggest star in the sport.
Ellberbe says their priority is Mayweather’s priority, and they’re going to be looking to build his fighters. Ellberbe sees the 29-year-old Lomachenko (10-1, 8 KOs) being fast tracked by his promoters at Top Rank due to his age. Ellberbe points out that Davis (19-0, 19 KOs) is only 23-years-old, so there’s no rush with him.
Davis captured his first world title last year in beating IBF World super featherweight champion Jose Pedraza. Davis defended the title successfully once in beating Liam Waslh before losing the belt after he failed to make weight last August against Francisco Fonseca. Davis won the fight by an 8th round knockout, but he lost his IBF title due to him coming in overweight by 2 pounds. Davis is fighting next on April 21 against an opponent still to be determined.
“If he’s around,” Ellerbe said to Fighthub about Lomachenko. ”We going to do what we’re doing. If the two meet, great. If they don’t, it’s okay. Gervonta Davis will be the biggest star in all of boxing.”
It would be a mistake for Ellberbe and Mayweather to match Davis against Lomachenko anytime soon. Davis doesn’t possess that kind of talent, and he’s end up getting schooled badly by him. Besides that, putting the Lomachenko vs. Davis fight together would be difficult because the Ukrainian fighter is with Top Rank. Even though it would be a fight that would favor Lomachenko, it’s difficult to imagine Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum making the fight unless the money tilted in his fighter’s favor to a large degree. It might not even be worth it for Davis to take the fight with Lomachenko.
I think it’s safe to say that Mayweather will NEVER match Gervonta Davis against Lomachenko. Even if Lomachenko gets old one day and has lost his skills, I still don’t see Mayweather and Ellberbe matching Davis against him.
Davis doesn’t look like he’s going to be the biggest star in boxing right now. If Davis can’t make weight to continue fighting in the super featherweight division, then he’s going to need to move up to lightweight and deal with fighters like Robert Easter Jr., Jorge Linares and Luke Campbell. Mikey Garcia is planning on moving up permanently to light welterweight soon, so his WBC lightweight title will fall vacant in the near future.
“Our priorities are Floyd Mayweather’s priorities,” Ellberbe said in explaining why Davis won’t be fighting Lomachenko. ”And we’re going to continue to elevate our young fighters, create opportunities. Our priorities aren’t Top Rank’s priorities. You know, they’re on the fast track; they got to rush (Lomachenko). He’s 32, 31. Yeah, they’re going to rush him. [Davis] is 22-years-old, he just won the world title last January,”“You know, [Davis] still got a lot to learn about the sport, a lot about being world champion and responsibilities that come along with that, and getting better as a fighter,” Ellerbe said. “The other kid [Lomachenko], I don’t know their plans are and it’s none of my business. Wish him the best, though.”