By Brian Webber: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says he wants to make Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Shakur Stevenson sometime in 2023. Arum states that both fighters want the match-up
Before Arum can think of putting together the Lomachenko-Stevenson fight, Loma (16-2, 11 KOs) needs to be given leave from the Ukrainian military and fight a tune-up match in October.
The former three-division world champion Lomachenko hasn’t fought since his victory over Richard Commey last December. Arum wants him to get back in action in a warm-up bout this year before he starts thinking of other fights for him.
Lomachenko vs. Stevenson would be a massive fight and would attract a lot of interest from the boxing world. WBC/WBO super featherweight champion Shakur (18-0, 9 KOs) says he wants Lomachenko to come down to 130 for that fight.
“I can’t speak for [Ryan] Garcia because he obviously fights for Golden Boy, and we haven’t broached anything with them,” said Bob Arum to Fighthype about a fight between Ryan Garcia and Shakur Stevenson.
It’s not realistic to be thinking of a fight involving Ryan Garcia facing Shakur Stevenson anytime soon, if ever. Ryan is looking for what many boxing fans see as a cash-out against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, which he has little to no shot at winning.
Once Ryan faces Tank, we’ll see if he’s interested in fighting Shakur or any of Arum’s other fighters like Teofimo Lopez or Lomachenko. Ryan will likely return to fighting older guys after he gets his payday match against Tank Davis, and he probably won’t want any part of a live body like Shakur.
“In our own [Top Rank] stable, hopefully, we get Lomachenko back, and he’s everything okay,” said Arum. “He gets leave from the Ukrainian military; then we can get Lomachenko in action in October. Next year, there are a lot of ways for Lomachenko to go.
“One fight that has to be made, maybe not next for either guy, but down the road next year, a fight that everybody would die for is Shakur Stevenson and Lomachenko.
“Both guys want that fight. I think [Top Rank vice president] Carl Moretti is working with our match-makers to pick a suitable opponent, and I’m sure they’ll come up with somebody that passes all the tests,” said Arum when asked who he’ll match Lomachenko against in October.
Stevenson is coming off back-to-back wins over Oscar Valdez and Jamel Herring. At 24, Shakur is looking very hard to beat, and it’s going to take a special fighter to defeat him.
The 34-year-old Lomachenko needs to fight Stevenson sooner rather than later because he might get too old if he waits.
“Remember, Loma has been inactive since December. Nothing in life anymore is definite,” said Arum when asked if Lomachenko’s return in October is ‘definite. “That’s what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Arum.
