Lomachenko vs. Walters is Still Very Possible, Says Bob Arum

By Steve Kim

On June 11th, Vasyl Lomachenko (5-1, 3KOs) faces Rocky Martinez for the WBO 130-pound title at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York and promoter Bob Arum has a particular fight in mind should Lomachenko (who currently holds the WBO featherweight title) wins this fight and stay in this weight class.

If Martinez wins, then Arum is still focused on matching Lomachenko against former world champion Nicholas 'The Axe Man' Walters (26-0-1, 21KOs), who was last seen in the ring in December going to a controversial draw with Jason Sosa.

"I think the fight that cries out to be made if Lomachenko beats Martinez and keeps the 130-pound title is Nicholas Walters," Arum stated to BoxingScene.com.

Arum attempted to make this match-up earlier this year but was unable to come to an agreement with 'the Axe Man' who held the WBA featherweight title up until last year when he lost his crown on the scales last June as he was unable to make the 126-pound weight limit versus Miguel Marriaga.

Walters was widely panned for not coming to terms for the Lomachenko fight but Arum states - "I didn't say his expectations were out of whack, it was the money that I had available from HBO wasn't enough to cover his purse and Lomachenko's purse. So I couldn't do it. That doesn't mean to say that his expectations were out of whack."

So what makes Arum believe he can make this fight in the near future?

"Because maybe I'll have more money," said Arum.

Lomachenko was last seen in the ring in November, when he knocked out Romulo Koasicha in ten rounds on the Tim Bradley-Brandon Rios undercard in Las Vegas.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.