T
The Big Guy
Guest
Manny Pacquiao will be fighting on April 14 on ESPN PPV, according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum, and then fighting Vasyl Lomachenko in November. That part of the news comes from Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao and Lomachenko will fight at 140, says Roach. Of course, the 86-year-old Arum will need to be the one that announces that fight, not Roach. We have to wait until Arum lets the boxing world know about the Pacquiao vs. Lomachenko fight.
Pacquiao is expected to be fighting on the April 14th ESPN PPV card against Mike Alvarado in a warm-up fight at Madison Square Garden, in New York. It’s the same card the Jeff Horn vs. Terence Crawford fight.
“Lomachenko’s next fight will be at 135 lbs and he and Manny will meet at 140 (later in the year),” Roach said to the Manilla Bulletin.
Lomachenko lacks the punching power to hurt Pacquiao, so this fight will come down to which of them has the speed, power and endurance to win. Pacquiao is still stronger and faster than Lomachenko. He’s also bigger than him. Lomachenko is younger and he could win based on his defensive skills and his conditioning. Pacquiao was gassing out in his last fight against Jeff Horn on July 2. Pacquiao did not look like he had the stamina needed for him to put Horn away when he had him hurt in the 9th round.
Roach is letting the cat out of the bag by telling the boxing fans about Pacquiao fighting Lomachenko. This is a big fight that will interest a lot of people. With the Pacquiao fight being offered to Lomachenko rather than Crawford, it gives an idea of who of Top Rank is pushing to turn into a star. Lomachenko might be seen as the more marketable fighter of the two. Lomachenko is certainly performing better in his fights right now than Crawford. You don’t see Lomachenko running from his opponents.
READ Pacquiao’s April 14th fight expected to be finalized this week
If the 29-year-old Lomachenko beats Pacquiao, it’s going to give his boxing career a big boost towards turning the 2-time Olympic gold medalist into a star in the sport, especially if he stays at 140.
Lomachenko will be close enough to the welterweight division to get the top fighters to face him for big money fights. A victory for Pacquiao would help his career as well, because he would be getting a huge win over a very good fighter in Lomachenko. Arum might then make the move of matching Pacquiao against Crawford, although I don’t see that fight happening. Pacquiao is still too useful in making fights against guys that he can beat and make good money fighting like Adrien Broner, Amir Khan and Danny Garcia.
“It will be on the same night Jeff Horn and Terence Crawford will fight for the (world welterweight title),” Arum said to the Manila Bulletin. “We’re just waiting and we will do the announcement once Manny’s on board,” Arum said.
Pacquiao to fight on April 14, then face Lomachenko in November » Boxing News
