The Vasilily Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez Jr. fight is on for October, although the contracts had not yet been signed, according to multiple reports.
Top Rank and David McWater, Lopez’s manager, agreed to terms on Wednesday after negotiations hit an impasse over the Lopez’s portion of the purse. Lopez earlier agreed on his share.
The fight, originally targeted for Oct. 3, will take place on Oct. 17 or 24 in the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas. BoxingScene is reporting that it is likely to be televised on ESPN, not pay-per-view.
Tefimo Lopez Sr., the fighter’s father and trainer, told the website that his sign expected to sign paperwork on Thursday.
“We came to an agreement,” McWater said. “The fight will take place later in October than Oct. 3, but we have a deal. It was a complicated deal but we made it. [Bob] Arum and I have been talking and we finally got it done.”
According to reports, the sides had to determine how to split an estimated $4.7 million overall purse. Lomachenko was offered around $3.45 million, which left $1.25 for Lopez, who demanded more and held out.
And his intransigence apparently has paid off. He reportedly will receive around $2 million. Lomachenko had said he would be willing to accept less money to make the fight happen.
“Bob was a complete gentleman. He never raised his voice to me,” McWater told BoxingScene. “Everything with Bob was completely businesslike. We’re both businessmen. It was easy, not easy. You know? It was one of those things that everybody was a gentleman and polite.
“We had to make an arrangement and we got to something where everyone was happy.”
As a result, fans will get to see one of the more compelling possible matchups in the sport.
Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) is No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list and holds three of the four major lightweight titles, one being the WBC’s “franchise” title. Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs), a dynamic young boxer-puncher, holds the fourth belt.
Some believe Lomachenko, 32, is vulnerable in what could be a torch-passing event.
“The whole world will see it and we will get more recognition when we beat Lomachenko, and that’s good for us,” Lopez Sr. said. “It’s going to be a beautiful fight between two great fighters doing the best that they can do to win.”
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