Loma Named WBC Franchise Champion, Haney Given Main title

On Wednesday, the WBC handed out their second ever ‘Franchise’ champion to now-former lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Lomachenko, who won the then-vacant WBC lightweight title back in August against Luke Campbell, has been given the same franchise distinction given to Canelo Alvarez earlier this year.

👑👊@Realdevinhaney has been elevated to WBC World Lightweight champion! pic.twitter.com/p4aMhm3sDQ

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 24, 2019

The same way the Franchise title gave way for Jermall Charlo to become the WBC middleweight champion earlier this year, Lomachenko’s reign now gives way to Devin Haney, who won the interim title in September against Zaur Abdullaev.

A statement read: “Vasiliy Lomachenko has become the World Boxing’s Franchise Champion.

“The announcement was made at the WBC’s 57th annual Convention, at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun.”

This may scuttle plans for Lomachenko to fulfill a goal to become the undisputed lightweight champion against the winner of December’s Richard Commey and Teofimo Lopez fight.

Haney will make the first defense of his WBC title on November 9th, when he appears on the KSI-Logan Paul card inside Staples Center.