Bob Arum negotiating Kambosos Jr vs. Lomachenko for fight in Australia

Image: Bob Arum negotiating Kambosos Jr vs. Lomachenko for fight in Australia
By Boxing News - 01/17/2022 - Comments

By Jim Calfa: Promoter Bob Arum is in talks to put together a fight between Vasily Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. next for April in Australia. The fight against undefeated, undisputed lightweight champion Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10 KOs) is Arum’s first option for the former three-division world champion Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs).

One could see how it would be necessary for Arum to have Lomachenko get the fight against Kambosos, as the Australian just beat his famous Top Rank fighter Teofimo Lopez last November.

If Lomachenko can defeat Kambosos to win back the three titles that Teofimo lost last year, Arum would be getting those belts back.

It would be better for Teofimo to be the one that avenges his loss to Kambosos, but he’s given up on the 135-lb division and is planning on competing at 140 for his next fight.

For Lomachenko to land the fight against the brash 28-year-old self-trumpeter Kambosos Jr, Arum will need to outbid the offer from Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who is talking with the  Australian’s promoters to set up a fight with WBC 135-lb champion Devin Haney.

Arum must outbid Hearn

It’s pretty simple which direction Kambosos Jr will go in. Whoever presents the biggest money offer to him, that’s the fighter that will get the golden ticket to face him in April in a huge stadium fight.

Given the 33-year-old Lomachenko’s age, it would be in Top Rank promoter Arum’s best interest to pay whatever it takes to get the Kambosos fight because he can’t afford to miss out on this fight opportunity.

It’s less of an issue for the 23-year-old Haney if he fails to get the fight with Kambosos this time around, as he’s young enough to wait around until he does.

Haney has the WBC lightweight title that he can use as bait to entice Kambosos Jr. and his promoter Lou DiBella to put together a fight with him.

Of course, if Lomachenko beats Kambosos, then it doesn’t matter. Hearn can then negotiate a fight with Loma if Haney is up to the task.

Image: Bob Arum negotiating Kambosos Jr vs. Lomachenko for fight in Australia

“This fight, against George Kambosos Jr in Australia, is my first-choice for Loma. Loma is well-prepared to do it,” said Bob Arum to Sky Sports.

“We are talking to the Kambosos Jr people about Loma going to Australia, which Loma is prepared to do,” said Top Rank’s Arum, who promotes Lomachenko.

“It would be a huge fight in Australia. But we have a COVID-19 problem to clear, which I think we can do,” said Arum.

Kambosos won’t be cheap

As long Arum is willing to come up with the money to get the fight for Lomachenko against Kambosos, it could be doable. There seems to be a real on Hearn’s part to get the fight for Haney.

This isn’t a time for Arum to be tight-fisted when it comes to the money. He will need to open his wallet and give until it hurts if he wants to get the fight for Lomachenko. Being miserly won’t get the job done.

Hearn wants to turn Haney into a star, and it’s crucial that he successfully negotiate the fight with Kambosos. This is a fight that Haney would have an excellent chance of winning, and that’s why Hearn needs to outbid Arum.

It’s an easy way for Hearn to turn Haney into a temporary star. For Haney to have any lasting power as a star, he would need to beat Tank and Lomachenko, which doesn’t seem likely given what we’ve seen from him lately.