By Ron Lewis
Bob Arum says he wants Vasiliy Lomachenko to box around the globe to show he is a true champion of the world.
After Lomachenko’s unanimous points decision win over Luke Campbell in London, Arum hinted that his next fight would also be outside the United States.
With Lomachenko now holding three versions of the world lightweight title, his next target is to face the winner of the Richard Commey-Teofimo Lopez IBF title fight. But with that due to take place in December, it leaves Lomachenko with a chance for another fight in the interim.
“Not Ukraine but there are people around the world who want the opportunity to watch him,” Arum said. “Muhammad Ali, who was my mentor in effect, taught me one thing – to be a world superstar in boxing, you have to fight all over the world. They can’t limited themselves to the Unites States or any one country.
“My goal and I think Loma’s goal is to fight all around the world, because there is a tremendous market for him among sportsmen.
“With Ali we fought here, we fought in Germany, in Japan, in the Philippines, Switzerland, all over the world. That is what a world champion has to do in my opinion. I think Loma is on that page.”
Arums would also not rule out a return to the UK, even though there are no obvious British opponents for him to face.
“The truth is that Loma is such a big star here in the UK and the fight fans are so sophisticated that he doesn’t necessarily have to fight a Brit to come back here and fight and sell out the O2.”
Arum said it would not be his decision whether Lomachenko will box at lightweight or at a lower weight when he fights later this year, saying the decision would be made by Lomachenko’s father Anatoly.
“We have one genius in this group and that is his father, “Arum said. “He won’t sit up here, he won’t say anything, but his father is the smartest person boxing-wise that I have ever met. He understands boxing, he understands his son and he understand what will make a good fight.
“He is a man who will fight simultaneously in three weight divisions like Henry Armstrong did. That’s our dream for Loma.”