Sampson, Matchroom reach deal for Javier Fortuna vs Luke Campbell

Looks like the delay paid off. Sampson Lewkowicz, who was already having an excellent day after outbidding Top Rank for the rights to Josh Taylor-Apinun Khongsong, tells ESPN that he has successfully made a deal with Eddie Hearn for the WBC lightweight title fight between Javier Fortuna and Luke Campbell. Lewkowicz claims the fight will take place stateside in April, though Mike Coppinger raises March 28th as a possibility.

I’m hoping for the former; Usyk-Chisora, Beterbiev-Meng, and Teofimo Lopez’s return have all been linked to 3/28, so it’s a wee bit crowded at the moment.

To recap the title situation for those who, like sensible people, have excised the alphabet nonsense from their brains: last September, Devin Haney demolished Zaur Abdullaev to claim the interim WBC title. One month later, the sanctioning body decided to name Vasiliy Lomachenko, then the regular champion, “franchise champion,” elevating Haney into Lomachenko’s former slot. After defeating Alexis Santiago in his inaugural defense, Haney got the order to face Fortuna, who’d smashed Jesus Cuellar in an eliminator.

Then Haney underwent shoulder surgery, prompting the WBC to dub him “champion-in-recess” and call up Luke Campbell to face Fortuna for the regular title with the expectation that whoever wins then face Haney once he’s back in action.

You get all that? It’ll be on the test.

Basically: stupid circumstances, good fight.