Dino Duva, promoter of WBA World Champion in the bantamweight division Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) said that negotiations over the fight against WBO belt-bearer in the super featherweights Vasily Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) are close to completion, informs ESPN.
Duva said he has been talking to Arum about making the fight since before Lomachenko knocked out Miguel Marriaga in the seventh round of a one-sided fight to retain his world title on ESPN on Aug. 5.
"We are in good, positive, serious talks and hoping it can get done. We're close to a deal. We don't have any contracts done yet, and hopefully we can get a deal done," Duva said Sunday night. "We're in a pretty good place from all angles, and we're hopeful we can get it done very soon. I've been talking to Bob. We've had very good talks. We're trying to fine-tune the deal to make sure the fighters and the companies are happy. I am cautiously hopeful. It will be a great fight, a great, historic fight."
"The weight is not an issue," Duva said. "Rigo feels like he can go anywhere from 122 to 130 pounds. Rigo wants to and has to make a statement, and this is the fight he can make a statement in. He feels he can beat anybody. He realizes Lomachenko is a tough fight, but if this is made, it is a great fight for fans and a great fight for boxing."
