By Steve Kim
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is optimistic that a rematch between WBO super featherweight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5KOs) and tough brawler Orlando Salido (43-13-4, 30KOs) will take place in the spring of 2017.
He told BoxingScene.com on Tuesday afternoon - "I think we've pretty well come to terms and we're now talking to HBO about a date, which will be in March.
As for where this fight will land, Arum stated - "It could be in the Los Angeles area, although, there's a big possibility that it might go into this new arena in Las Vegas that MGM (Grand) just built, the Park Theater, which is 4,500 people. I don't know what their schedule is but I was there Saturday night and it make perfect sense for boxing."
Salido defeated Lomachenko in controversial fashion in what was his second pro outing in March of 2014, where Salido not only failed to make weight (and thus relinquishing his WBO featherweight title) but was then allowed to get away with numerous low blows that were never penalized by referee Laurence Cole.
In his last ring appearance, which took place last month at the Cosmo in Las Vegas, Lomachenko overwhelmed previously undefeated Nicholas Walters and made him quit in seven rounds.
Salido has been out of the ring since his twelve round majority draw with WBC world champion Francisco Vargas in June. The Vargas fight is one of the leading candidates for Fight of The Year. Salido was originally slated to return last Saturday night against Takashi Miura as part of the Bernard Hopkins-Joe Smith undercard, but suffered an injury that forced him to withdraw a few weeks ago.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.