Bob Arum is hoping to make an obvious, fan-friendly match-up a reality in the course of the tip of next twelve months.

The top of Top Rank Inc. was once simply in recent times asked via FightHype.com about the future of Shakur Stevenson, the unified 130-pound titlist from Newark, New Jersey. Asked if a showdown with Ryan Garcia might be inside the taking part in playing cards, Arum demurred, mentioning the reality he does not put it up for sale Garcia; the 23-year-old lightweight is subsidized via rival outfit Golden Boy Promotions.

Arum, however, was once sure {{that a}} vital struggle for Stevenson may also be had underneath the Top Rank banner — with three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko.

Lomachenko, 34, put his career on hang earlier this twelve months to uphold military duties in his native land of Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Then again, Arum believes Lomachenko would in all probability return to the ring as soon as this October. If Lomachenko gets his career once more on the right track, Arum thinks it is almost definitely that his company can stage a Lomachenko-Stevenson struggle as soon as in the future next twelve months.

“I will be able to’t keep in touch for [Ryan] Garcia, obviously he fights for Golden Boy. We haven’t broached anything with them,” Arum prompt FightHype.com. “In our non-public sturdy with a bit of luck we get Lomachenko once more in movement. If the whole thing’s adequate, if he’ll get move clear of the Ukrainian military, we can get Lomachenko in movement in October and then next twelve months [there are] a lot of ways for Lomachenko to transport.

Arum Certain About Staging Lomachenko-Stevenson Next twelve months: ‘Every Guys Want That Fight’

“One struggle that must be made, in all probability not next for each guy, on the other hand down the road, in all probability next twelve months, the struggle that everybody would die to see if Shakur Stevenson and Lomachenko. Every guys want that struggle.”

Stevenson, 25, is coming off a career-best win over Oscar Valdez to unify the WBC and WBO 130-pound titles. The southpaw ace will protect those belts in his place of origin of Newark on Sept. 23 against Robson Conceicao.

Arum well-known that his crew is nowadays in search of an acceptable opponent for Lomachenko should the Ukrainian be fit to return to the ring in October. Lomachenko has not fought since outpointing Richard Commey in December.

“I believe [Vice President of Operations] Carl Moretti is working with our matchmakers to choose an appropriate opponent,” Arum discussed. “I’m sure they’ll come up with somebody that passes all the assessments. Remember Loma’s been inactive since I guess December.”