By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Gervonta Davis is preparing to fight an opponent Vasyl Lomachenko knocked out last year.

It does not seem, however, that a very intriguing bout between the undefeated Davis and Lomachenko is any closer to taking place. The 22-year-old Davis (18-0, 17 KOs) owns the IBF super featherweight title and the 29-year-old Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) is the WBO 130-pound champion.

The powerful southpaw from Baltimore against the uniquely skilled Ukrainian southpaw is the biggest fight that can be made within the 130-pound division.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Davis’ promoter, said several times earlier this year, though, that Davis and Lomachenko should remain on separate paths for now. Davis offered another reason why they might not fight any time in the near future while discussing his career with a group of reporters before the Mikey Garcia-Adrien Broner fight Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“I believe that [the] Lomachenko [fight] will happen eventually,” Davis said. “It’s just at a right time. I believe that Lomachenko, not to say nothing bad about a fighter, but Lomachenko’s still fighting at MGM, that hold 3,400 [fans].

“You know, we’re looking to fight people that’s bringing a lot more than 3,400. No diss to Lomachenko. He’s a great fighter. And down the road, we will meet. If not, my career still will be successful.”

Lomachenko’s last fight, a technical knockout of Jason Sosa (20-2-4, 15 KOs), took place April 8 at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The two-time Olympic gold medalist is scheduled to defend his WBO super featherweight championship again Saturday night (ESPN).

Lomachenko’s scheduled 12-round fight against Colombia’s Miguel Marriaga (25-2, 21 KOs) is set to take place at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, another small venue.

Davis, meanwhile, is expected to oppose Puerto Rico’s Rocky Martinez (29-3-3, 17 KOs) on the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor undercard August 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Showtime Pay-Per-View). Lomachenko knocked out the 34-year-old Martinez in the fifth round to win the WBO 130-pound title 13 months ago in The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Davis’ previous fight, a third-round technical knockout of England’s Liam Walsh (21-1, 14 KOs), was contested May 20 at Copper Box Arena in London. That venue can hold approximately 8,000 for boxing.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.