Lomachenko-Sosa officially announced for April 8 on HBO

As had been previously announced but until now wasn’t 100% official, Vasyl Lomachenko will meet Jason Sosa in a super featherweight title unification fight on April 8, with the fight airing live on HBO from the new MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KO) will defend his WBO belt against the WBA “world” title held by Sosa (20-1-4, 15 KO) in a meeting of fighters who are both on hot streaks.

Lomachenko, 28, blitzed through Rocky Martinez and Nicholas Walters in 2016, scoring a highlight reel KO of Martinez on June 11, then beating Walters into submission on November 26. Sosa, also 28, upset Javier Fortuna on June 24 in Beijing, then beat Stephen Smith on November 12 in Monte Carlo.

"I would like to thank Jason Sosa, who unlike the other champions, agreed to take this fight to determine the best in this weight division, even though everyone knows I am the division's Papi," said Lomachenko.

"I moved up to 130 pounds hoping champions in this division were not cowards like those at 126 pounds. It looks like I was wrong. To all the other 'champions' in the 126 pound and 130 pound divisions, I say this to you, 'You are not champions, you are businessmen. Bad businessmen. By avoiding risks, you cheat the boxing fans and that is bad business.' I came to this sport to prove to myself and others that I am this big and loud champion. So, while all of you continue to hide from me, I am going forward to achieve my goals. My next step is on April 8th. See you there!"

"We understand that this is the most difficult fight of our career due to the fact that we are fighting the best fighter - Vasyl Lomachenko - in the history of amateur boxing," said Sosa. "The beauty of all of this is that I only had three amateur fights and will prove to the world that we are by far the better fighter."

The untelevised undercard will feature returns for Jesse Hart, Mike Reed, and Patrick Harris.