By Steve Kim

As Vasyl Lomachenko - who faces Miguel Marriaga this weekend as the main event on ESPN from the Microsoft Theater at LA Live - was looking for an opponent for this date, there was talk of him facing lightweight contender, Ray Beltran at 135 pounds.

"It was a legitimate offer," confirmed Steve Feder, the manager of Beltran. "We said yes, I think it was just at that point Lomachenko decided not to move up, yet.

Eventually, Lomachenko and his brain trust made the decision to stay at super featherweight and defend his WBO belt. But Beltran and his team believe that fight is still a possibility for the future.

"If that opportunity comes back to us, we'd absolutely take it," said Feder.

For the time being the focus is on Beltran getting a major fight. This Saturday night underneath Lomachenko-Marriaga he takes on Bryan Vasquez in defense of the NABF and NABO lightweight titles.

"I think the key right now is to get him the money fights and unfortunately it's not easy to get Jorge Linares (the WBA champion), Mikey Garcia (WBC ruler) or (Terry) Flanagan (the WBO titlist). Those are the three prime suspects we want. The question is will these guys fight us?," asked Feder.

Beltran, a seasoned veteran might simply be too much risk for not enough reward.

Feder recalled,"Bruce Trampler (Top Rank's matchmaker) once said to me,' If you were managing these guys would you fight Ray Beltran?' And he's right, I wouldn't fight him either. Those are the three we want. After watching Garcia the other night dominate (Adrien) Broner at 140, I think he'd be a great fight for Ray at 135. That would be the number one fight, him and Linares."

But there is always the specter of Lomachenko, who may not have willing dance partners at 130.

"Taking into consideration we may not get those fights, right now I still think a really interesting fight would be Lomachenko. I know he's been chasing other fights at 130 but if he decides to move up to 135, I know Ray told me he'd love to be in with the best in the world and Lomachenko is that. That fight would be a real interesting fight. If we couldn't fight for a belt, that would be the fight."

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.