Vasyl Lomachenko has skyrocketed into pound-for-pound lists with his recent string of mesmerizing performances, but the young pro does has one blemish: a 2014 loss to Orlando Salido. The Ukrainian rising star will reportedly look to avenge that loss in 2017.
Lomachenko’s promotor, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, said that negotiations are going well with Salido’s team and the fight will likely happen in the first quarter of next year.
“I think we’ve pretty well come to terms and now we’re talking to HBO about a date, which will be in March,” Arum told Boxing Scene.
“It could be in the Los Angeles area, although there’s a big possibility that it might go into the new arena in Las Vegas that MGM (Grand) just built, the Park Theater, which is 4,500 people. I don’t know what their schedule is but I was there Saturday night and it makes perfect sense for boxing.”
Lomachenko (7-1) has rebounded from his early loss to Salido by becoming one of the most respected boxers in the game with only a handful of pro fights. He has won titles at both featherweight and junior lightweight; in June of this year, he landed one of the best knockouts of the year against Roman Martinez to win the 130-lb. WBO belt.
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He last beat Nicholas Walters in November.
The veteran Salido (41-12-2) has not fought since June, when he engaged in one of the best fights of the year in his back-and-forth war with Francisco Vargas. The fight was ruled a draw.
Salido said that he is excited to get another crack at Lomachenko and prove that he is still the better fighter.
“We are negotiating and we are waiting to fight Lomachenko in March. We hope they reach a good conclusion and we’ll go forward.
“Lomachenko is more alive, more awake, has more qualities, he’s more settled in professional boxing. I know this fight is going to be good.”