Lomachenko next fight – Syndication Server

Report: Lomachenko-Lopez fight teetering on collapse

Is the Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez lightweight title-unification fight in danger of falling apart?

Lopez has rejected an offer of more than $1.2 million and is prepared to walk away from the fight, according to The Athletic. Lomachenko, No. 1 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list, reportedly accepted in excess of $3.25 million for the fight, which is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 3 in Las Vegas.

Lopez was told that he will make a fraction of that amount if he were to defend his title against someone else, per The Athletic report.

“We’re working on it,” Top Rank President Todd duBoef told the outlet. “We started our conversations earlier this week and we’re working on coming to terms to make the match.”

If the fight falls apart, we might never see it. Lomachenko, a small 135-pounder, has said he wants to move down to 130. Meanwhile, Lopez will soon make the move to 140.

The fight was supposed to have taken place on May 30 at Madison Square Garden but it was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com that the fight might not be televised on pay-per-view, as expected. It could land on ESPN+, the sports network’s streaming service. No decision has been made.

Teofimo Lopez could stay at 135 after Vasiliy Lomachenko fight

Teofimo Lopez said he could stay at 135 pounds after he fights Vasiliy Lomachenko because of the opportunities in that division.

The assumption has been that Teofimo Lopez would move up to 140 pounds whether he wins, loses or draws in his lightweight tile-unification fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Lopez has admittedly had trouble making the 135-pound limit. However, after the Lomachenko fight, tentatively set for Oct. 3, there are many big fights to be made in the division. Lopez could potentially square off with rising stars Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis.

Lopez said on DAZN’s “Boxing with Chris Mannix” that he would be willing to stay at lightweight if fights against those names could materialize.

“Absolutely,” Lopez said. “I think with the Richard Commey fight, I made weight very easy. I didn’t expect it to be that easy. I know I can definitely make 135 again very smooth.

“I just need to make sure ‘Little Diva’ (Lomachenko) isn’t hiding in Egis’ (Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager) room in his guest house during this quarantine because he’s out there right now. People think he’s in Ukraine, but he’s not. He’s in [Los Angeles]. He’s back.

With those names mentioned, along with Lopez and Lomachenko, the lightweight division has become one of the most star-studded weight classes. And should Lopez defeat arguably the best fighter pound-for-pound to become the unified champion, then “The Lopez Era” will be underway.

“You have Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, ‘Tank Davis,” Lopez said. “The list goes on and on. These guys all have something, some type of attribute that makes the fans want to see them more. I’m very happy to be in that era now.

“Teofimo Lopez is the one that’s definitely going to take over. How we’re going to start, it is with this guy (Lomachenko) on Oct. 3.”

Video: Teofimo Lopez ready for Oct. 3 clash with Vasiliy Lomachenko

Teofimo Lopez reiterated that the target date for his lightweight title-unification showdown with Vasiliy Lomachenko is Oct. 3.

Teofimo Lopez reiterated that the target date for his lightweight title-unification showdown with Vasiliy Lomachenko is Oct. 3, although contracts have yet to been signed.

And while it’s presumed that the fight will take place in the MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas, the home of Top Rank’s shows during the coronavirus pandemic, Lopez holds out hope that spectators will be allowed to watch the fight in person.

This matchup, he said on the Boxing with Chris Mannix show, is too big to be staged behind closed doors.

The fight was originally targeted for March 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and then moved to Sept. 19 but was pushed back both times because of COVID-19.

Here’s Mannix’s interview with Lopez. Video courtesy of DAZN.

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