WBC Names Vasiliy Lomachenko Franchise Champion While Elevating Devin Haney!
The WBC has named another franchise champion. This time, the recipient is unified light weight champion Vasiliy ‘Hi-Tech’ Lomachenko.
Many felt it was meaningless when it was done for boxing’s biggest star, Canelo Alvarez. Some felt it was a way to keep from having to force him to face top challenger Jermall Charlo. That perplexing piece of history we will save for another day.
REPEATED HISTORY
The timing of the this move by the WBC, this time in the lightweight division, is noteworthy. It occurs, yet again, just on the verge of getting an undisputed champion. This, in effect, pulls the rug completely from underneath the entire boxing community.
However, one point needs to be clear regarding the 31-year-old boxer from Ukraine. Lomachenko has made it extremely clear there are no qualms at all with facing top challengers.
In fact, the unified lightweight champion dropped all the names that the boxing community would foam at the mouth to see him fight. The young lions named that were dropped are undefeated fighters Devin Haney and newcomer to the division, former Junior lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.
It’s worth mentioning the unified champion already plans on facing the winner of IBF champion Ricard Commey vs Teofimo Lopez. Look for that fight to take place on December 12 at the famous Madison Square Garden Arena.
So why this? What could possible be the reason behind it?
A BIGGER PLAN IN MOTION
Could it possibly be that maybe Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum has other plans for the unified champion?
It’s been said that after competing in the World Boxing Super Series tournament that Japanese sensation IBF Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue indeed will be under the watchful guidance of the legendary Top Rank brand.
Arum has been vocal a few times of a possible fight at featherweight for both men, if possible.
MAKING HISTORY
Although this move by the WBC organization completely came out of left field, where exactly does this leave it’s number #1 ranked fighter?
Haney (23-0, 15ko), could possibly be about to make history, if continuing with previous practice as the WBC did with Charlo. The 20-year-old California native won the interim title status by defeating Zaur Abdullev back in September. This means that the young man should be elevated to WBC world champion and the youngest champion in boxing history.
IRONIC TURN OF EVENTS
It can be said this was destined to happen, considering that Haney had agreed to fight Luke Campbell in the early part of 2019 when then-unified champion Mikey Garcia vacated the title to pursue a mega fight with IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.
The young sensational boxer took to twitter to let the entire boxing community know of the recent news.
By: Garrisson Bland
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