Lomachenko Confirms: I’m Staying at 130, Vacating Title at 126
by David P. Greisman
Two-division titleholder Vasyl Lomachenko has made the decision he was expected to make, opting to remain in the weight class where he recently captured his second belt.
Lomachenko won the World Boxing Organization’s title at featherweight in June 2014 with a majority decision over Gary Russell Jr., and he defended it three times afterward against lesser opposition. Unable to get big fights at 126, he jumped to 130, originally hoping to face Nicholas Walters (who doesn’t have a belt) but then, when a deal with Walters couldn’t be made, taking on Roman Martinez instead.
Lomachenko knocked Martinez out this past June, winning the WBO’s title at junior lightweight.
“My decision between WBO 126lb and 130lb was made .Better opportunities in 130lb,” wrote Lomachenko, or whoever handles social media for him, on Twitter on Thursday morning. This is [why] I am keeping it and vacating my 126lb.WBO title.”
Up next for Lomachenko could be a rematch with Orlando Salido, according to Mitch Abramson of RingTV.com. Salido gave Lomachenko his only pro loss, though not without controversy. Salido came in quite overweight, got away with an exceptional number of low blows and still only was able to triumph by split decision back in March 2014.
As for the vacant WBO featherweight title, that will be won by the victor in this weekend’s bout between Oscar Valdez and Matias Rueda, which will air on the pay-per-view undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Viktor Postol.
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