According to promoter Bob Arum, the agreement to Vasily Lomachenko fought the unified lightweight champion George Kambosos in Australia this spring, it was practically a settled matter.
The problem with Lomachenko's boxing career at the moment is that he is not in a position to participate in a boxing match in the near future. The former undisputed lightweight champion has returned to his homeland, to Ukraine, and we are helping the country defend itself from the occupation of the Russian Federation.
Arum, Lomachenko's promoter, understands that Lou DiBella, Kambosos' promoter, will have to make some sort of decision in the near future in order to keep the summer fight date for his boxer. The Sydney-born Kambosos is scheduled to defend his WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight titles on June 5 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, according to preliminary information.
“Everything was almost ready,” Arum said in an interview with FightHub. — Everything was done. Lu spoke with Jeremy Kegel, our legal adviser, and they agreed on everything. Lou sent us a letter today saying he was willing to wait a bit, but they would have to move on. He thanked us for the good faith negotiation."
34-year-old Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) was the leader for a meeting with Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) after negotiations between the Australian team and the WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney have reached a dead end.
“If this is not resolved by the end of the week, Lou will have to consider other fighters,” Arum added. “He acted like a gentleman all this time. But there is always tomorrow. Kambosos is likely to get another opponent. I hope he wins and then he can fight Loma later this year if the war in Ukraine is over by then."
Arum seems to have come to terms with the fact that Lomachenko won't be entering the ring anytime soon. At the same time, in one of the recent messages, ESPN spokesman Mike Coppinger said that the Lomachenko team is seeking special permission from the Ukrainian government to leave the country to prepare for the fight with Kambosos in June.
Lomachenko's inability to enter the ring allowed Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) to re-enter the game. Haney's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing recently stated, "I believe we will make this fight."
