An old grudge could prevent boxing’s best chess match
Immediately following Saturday night’s fight in which Vasyl Lomachenko stopped Jorge Linares, Lomachenko’s promoter, Bob Arum was asked about the potential matchup with fellow lightweight champion Mikey Garcia. His response was not something boxing fans were happy to hear at all.
“Mikey Garcia is a worse negotiation than (Donald) Trump is gonna have with the North Koreans,” said Arum at the post-fight press conference on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
“Because of the way (Garcia) negotiates: ‘Oh, I’m loyal to (Showtime president of sports and event programming Stephen) Espinoza and I’m loyal to Showtime.’ I admire loyalty. If he’s loyal to Showtime and they’ve been good to him, let him be loyal to Showtime. Just don’t bother me.”
Don’t sound too promising, uh? Easy to understand the disappointment from some fans reading or hearing those words.
Earlier today Garcia addressed Arum’s statement. Garcia, who was promoted by Top Rank until they parted ways a few years ago, explained that he hasn’t spoken to Arum since June of 2013 – when he knocked out Juan Manuel Lopez.
“When was the last time he talked to me personally? Back in Dallas for the Lopez fight, at the airport,” Garcia said. “That’s the last time I remember. I don’t know what he’s talking about that it would be so difficult.”
Lomachenko is being positioned to return on August 25th at The Forum in Los Angeles – likely against WBO champion Ray Beltran, who is also promoted by Top Rank.
Will fans get this fight? Honestly I wouldn’t gamble on it either way and I talk to both sides often and have a good relationship with both. The thing is that Lomachenko wants this fight and hopefully that makes a huge difference.
By: Chris Henderson
