In news that you can file under maybe too good to be true, Bob Arum has gone on record to list the three potential opponents that Top Rank is looking into for Vasyl Lomachenko’s December return. If Arum is to be believed, we will next see the Ukrainian pound for pound elite in against Guillermo Rigondeaux, Orlando Salido, or Miguel Berchelt.
The one man that Arum explicitly denied as a potential opponent is lightweight Ray Beltran (34-7-1, 21 KOs). While many have thought he is the logical, in house opponent for Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) to move to lightweight against, Arum is expressing the desire for Beltran to win a world title first. I do not think Ray Beltran can beat any of the current lightweight titleholders, but I suppose who knows when a belt will become vacant.
I would be very happy with any of the three options. Guillermo Rigondeaux (17-0, 11 KOs) deserves this fight and it would be a matchup of two of the greatest amateurs of all time. Yet, he would also likely have to jump up two weight classes to get it. Orlando Salido (44-13-4, 31 KOs) holds the one win over Loma. While I think it would now be a very easy night for Vasyl, it remains intriguing for that reason. Miguel Berchelt (32-1, 28 KOs) as a prime, full junior lightweight probably represents the stiffest test of the three.
Regardless, if any of the three matchups come to fruition, fight fans will be happy. Arum also singled out potential dates of December 9th or 23rd for this fight. I’d expect the ninth as two days before Christmas would be a very unusual date.
