By Steve Kim
On August 5th from the Microsoft Theater at LA Live, WBO super featherweight titlist Vasyl Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) headlines on ESPN versus Miguel Marriaga. Before this match-up was announced there was some chatter on social media from the representatives of Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) about landing this assignment.
There was back-and-forthing on this website centering mostly on what weight this possible match-up of two-time Olympic gold medalists would take place at.
Lomachenko and his manager, Egis Klimas, dared Rigondeaux to come up to 130-pounds. Rigondeaux, who is the WBA world champion at 122-pounds, accepted the challenge and said he would move up by two divisions to take the fight. Klimas advised Rigondeaux and his handlers to contact Top Rank.
But did Rigondeaux's team ever officially contact Top Rank formally? BoxingScene.com got the answer from Lomachenko's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank.
"Of course not," said Arum, who was a bit amused by the whole thing.
"They know my number, call me up and say, 'Are you interested in the fight?' Yeah, we'd be interested in the fight, sure. But don't send out tweets and then call and say, 'Yeah, give us $5 million."
Rigondeaux at one time was promoted by Arum and it was an often acrimonious relationship. Rigondeaux returned to the ring last month in a controversial mandatory defense of his belt.
Initially it was ruled that he knocked out Moises Flores in the first round, but the outcome was eventually ruled a 'no-contest' as he hit Flores after the first round bell had sounded on June 17th at the Mandalay Bay. Since then the WBA has mandated a rematch between the two.
Lomachenko saw action in April against former WBA world champion Jason Sosa. In a one-sided domination, Lomachenko handed Sosa his first TKO defeat in an HBO televised main event from the MGM National Harbor at Oxon Hill in Maryland.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.