By Steve Kim
Currently, WBO super featherweight belt-holder Vasyl Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) is scheduled to face Jason Sosa, who holds the WBA "regular" title, on April 8th on a card that will be televised by HBO.
But, Lomachenko and his team have designs are bigger fights against the marquee names in the sport.
The boxer's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, believes his rising star will move up to the lightweight division by the end of this year. Lomachenko is already an two-division world champion in only eight professional fights.
Egis Klimas, the manager of the two-time Olympic gold medalist, when asked if they would face Mikey Garcia - who recently captured the WBC lightweight title on January 28th by blowing out Dejan Zlaticanin in three rounds - gave a very short answer:
"Listen, Lomachenko told me that other day he'd love to fight Mikey Garcia," Klimas said.
Klimas, while an in-studio guest of 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' with Mario Lopez, was then asked about the possibility of a showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
Arum would love to make that fight, but Lomachenko has been insistent that he won't go above the lightweight limit of 135. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is interested as well, but he'd rather have the fight take place around the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds.
"I don't think Pacquiao right now can go down to 135," said Klimas, of the current WBO welterweight champion. "And I'm not joking and I'm not trying to be funny but I'm very serious, if we can get a couple of fights, two fights at 135 and Pacquiao can come down to 135, send me a contract - we'll sign it."
Pacquiao is also slated to return back to the ring in the month of April, as a deal is nearly wrapped up to fight undefeated 2012 Australian Olympian Jeff Horn.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.