Boxing Fans Eagerly Await Lomachenko’s Next Opponent After Kambosos Knockout
The discussion surrounding Vasiliy Lomachenko’s next fight after his knockout victory over former lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. has boxing enthusiasts buzzing with anticipation. Veteran trainer Teddy Atlas believes the timing is right for Lomachenko, the new IBF lightweight champion, to pursue a unification bout against WBA titleholder Gervonta “Tank” Davis before the year’s end.
While Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has a scheduled title defense on June 15 against unbeaten Frank Martin on Prime Video pay-per-view, he has already expressed his intent to face Lomachenko after this planned victory. Undefeated WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and three-division champion Emanuel Navarrete, who is fighting for the WBO lightweight strap this Saturday, would also likely relish the opportunity to take on Lomachenko.
“If this fight is going to happen, it has to happen soon. (For) Lomachenko, the clock is ticking,” Atlas emphasized.
The veteran trainer is fascinated by the prospect of “The Matrix” Lomachenko maneuvering and dissecting the hard-hitting Davis, comparing it to the delicate task of “disarming a bomb.” Lomachenko has a history of outmaneuvering and neutralizing the power of formidable opponents, but he now faces the challenge of taking on a “pound-for-pound fighter who can do it all,” according to Atlas.
Fellow analyst Paulie Malignaggi argued that the 36-year-old Lomachenko is not obligated to fight Davis, who allegedly “ducked him years ago.” However, Atlas believes there is no sense in dwelling on the past when the bout seems ripe for the taking now.
Stevenson, who may return to the Top Rank stable after his upcoming title defense, is also a potential opponent for Lomachenko. Analyst Chris Algieri acknowledged Stevenson’s high-level boxing skills but expressed concerns that a Lomachenko-Stevenson matchup might not be the most entertaining, given Stevenson’s tendency to “diffuse interactions.”
As Lomachenko and his father-trainer, Anatoli, contemplate the next step, Top Rank President Todd DuBoef affirmed that the three-division champion will have the final say in selecting his preferred opponent from the lightweight title bouts scheduled over the next six weeks.
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