Lightweight Unification Bout Between Lomachenko and Lopez Set for October

Vasyl Lomachenko in 2019. Photo by Philip Sharkey/TGS Photo/Shutterstock (10373903m)

It appears that we will have an undisputed lightweight boxing champion by the end of the year. According to multiple reports, WBA, WBC, The Ring, and WBO champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and IBF champion Teofimo Lopez are set to square off in October.

Although the two fighters still haven’t inked the deals to make it official, both camps reportedly settled on terms. Lomachenko was set to earn $3.5 million according to the initial deal but later decided to take a reduced package in order to make the fight happen. Lopez, on the other hand, will get around $1.5 million.

The fight is currently scheduled to take place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with October 17th being mentioned as the most likely date. 

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, whose company promotes both fighters, later confirmed the news to ESPN.

“It’s not done [until] the contracts are signed, I’m not being an alarmist or so forth, but I made the deal with David [McWater, the manager of Lopez],” said Arum. “We’ve got to paper the deal, which will be done tomorrow.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko’s last fight took place a year ago when he defeated Luke Campbell by a unanimous decision. Lomachenko is currently 14-1, with 10 of his wins coming via knockout.

Teofimo Lopez, on the other hand, is entering the fight with a perfect 15-0 record, and 12 knockout wins. His last win came against Richard Commey in December, when he won the IBF belt.

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