Top Rank announced a number of fight nights as live boxing continues to come back from the COVID-19-enforced shutdown, including Vasiliy Lomachenko's anticipated showdown with Teofimo Lopez Jr. for Oct. 17.
Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) and Lopez (15-0, 12 KOs) were originally set to clash with the Ukrainian's WBA, WBO and The Ring lightweight titles put up against the unbeaten American's IBF strap at Madison Square Garden, before the hoped May 30 date was one of many to be washed away by the coronavirus pandemic.
The MGM Grand, venue for so many all-time great boxing clashes, has been nicknamed "The Las Vegas Bubble" as it prepares to welcome post-lockdown action across a number of weekend dates, all of which conforming to COVID-19 protocol.
“Lomachenko-Lopez is the best fight that can be made in boxing, and we are delighted that it will be available to fans for no extra charge live on ESPN,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
“Teofimo and Vasiliy demanded the fight, and we are glad we could make it happen. Vasiliy has never backed down from a challenge since he turned pro under the Top Rank banner, and Teofimo is a fearless young champion daring to be great. This has all the makings of a modern boxing classic.”
Lomachenko said at the announcement: “Teofimo Lopez can talk all he wants. He’s very good at talking. He has done nothing but say my name for the past two years.
"I am a fighter, and my goal is to win another world title. Good for Teofimo. When we fight in Las Vegas, he will eat my punches and his words. I will be the better man, and four world titles will come home with me to Ukraine.”
Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager, added: “Nobody has seen Lomachenko at 100 percent inside the ring. If Teofimo can push Loma to at least 80 percent, it means Teofimo is the best opponent Loma has faced.”
Brooklyn's Lopez, who has had plenty to say about his next opponent, was not lost for words at the confirmation.
He said: “I will beat up Lomachenko and take his belts. Simple as that. I'm coming to Las Vegas to make history.
"I don’t like the guy, and I’m going to have fun as Lomachenko's face is beaten and marked up by my hands. The takeover is here, and the reign of Lomachenko, the little diva, is coming to an end.”
Also announced by Top Rank was a card inside the bubble at MGM on Oct. 3 headlined by Jose Zepeda (32-2, 2 NC, 25 KOs) vs. Ivan Baranchyk (20-1, 13 KOs) over 10 rounds at junior welterweight in a fight originally planned for July 7 before a training injury to Baranchyk forced a postponement.
On Oct. 9, Emanuel Navarrete (32-1, 28 KOs) meets Ruben Villa (18-0, 5 KOs) in a 12-round main event for the vacant WBO featherweight championship at the same venue, where Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) will also defend his IBF and WBA bantamweight straps against Jason Moloney (21-1, 18 KOs) on Oct. 31 in the popular champ's Vegas debut.
Meanwhile Top Rank will stage a card from Moscow, where the country's own Artur Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) headlines against Adam Deines (19-1-1, 10 KOs) on Oct. 23 in a bout for Beterbiev's WBC and IBF light-heavyweight straps.