By Edward Chaykovsky
WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (4-1, 2KOs) has placed Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10KOs) in an awkward position - by aggressively pursing a fight with the Cuban WBA/WBO super bantamweight champion.
Talk of the two fighting, both with remarkable amateur records and two Olympic gold medals on their ledger, has gone on for some time.
Lomachenko has spoken to his promoter Top Rank, who are willing to put up a six figure sum for both fighters - with an additional $500 thousand to the winner.
Weight remains to be the question. Lomachenko is not going to entertain any term of a catch-weight. He wants the full division limit of 126-pounds. Rigondeaux, who is even small for 122, is more comfortable with a weight of 124.
Rigondeaux has been inactive since last December and Lomachenko has fought once since that time period, winning by KO in nine over Gamalier Rodriguez on the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao undercard on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"I have spoken to my promoter. He is going to give us $500,000 each. And the winner will get [an] extra $500,000. So you won't be left without money. Let's do it," Lomachenko spread on the social networks.