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Vasyl Lomachenko has spent the months since his knockout of Jorge Linares nursing a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which he had surgery to repair in late May. According to manager Egis Klimas, “Hi-Tech” plans to return on December 1st against the winner of the August 25th bout between Ray Beltran and Jose Pedraza.
This fight would unify Lomachenko’s WBA “Super” title with Beltran’s WBO belt. Klimas is adamant that Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KO) wants to face WBC/IBF champ Mikey Garcia to determine the undisputed lightweight champion, though Garcia has his eyes on a welterweight bout with Errol Spence Jr.
It’s hard to imagine either Beltran (35-7-1, 21 KO) or Pedraza (24-1, 12 KO) having anything for Lomachenko, but I’m all for unifiers. Plus, Lomachenko vs. Garcia with all four belts on the line is a boxing fan’s wet dream, unlikely though it may be.
In any event, glad to hear that we get to see this man compete one more time in 2018.