By Steve Kim
Vasyl Lomachenko (10-1, 8 KOs) will look to become a three-time world champion by taking the title from WBA lightweight belt-holder Jorge Linares on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
And on July 14, eight division champion Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) will challenge WBA "regular" welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Malaysia.
For the last few months, there has been some discussion regarding a potential showdown between Lomachenko and Pacquiao at the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds.
Is there any chance that a fight between Pacquiao and Lomachenko will actually take place later in 2018?
Bob Arum, who promotes both men, tells BoxingScene.com - "Yes [it could happen], because the one thing at this stage that everybody has difficulty with is advising Manny as to who to fight next. He doesn't take advice kindly and maybe at his age and because of his position in politics. He's used to making the decisions first."
Of course, the fight depends on both boxers walking away with victories and uninjured from their upcoming assignments.
A Lomachenko-Pacquiao bout has been discussed for a couple of years - and as Arum noted, it's key that 'the Pac Man' has real interest in it.
"(Pacquiao) has been talking to me for awhile now about fighting Lomachenko and he indeed wanted to fight Lomachenko rather than Lucas Matthysse before that fight was made - but Lomachneko's father didn't want to do that fight because he wanted to first test Lomachenko at 135. He's very methodical, Anatoly," said Arum of Lomachenko's dad.
Pacquiao, and his longtime adviser Michael Koncz, have stated in recent interviews that Lomachenko would be their next target opponent.
The talented Ukrainian has won titles at featherweight, super featherweight and wants to continue climbing the divisional ladder to collect more world titles.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.