Even though he is no longer the three-belt lightweight champion, Vasiliy Lomachenko still wants to face Gervonta Davis. Lomachenko just doesn't believe the man leading Davis' career will put his top client anywhere near the man who used to sit on the pound-for-pound throne.
It was an observation Lomachenko noticed after Davis beat Isaac Cruz on Sunday to retain a secondary lightweight title. His promoter Floyd Mayweather Jr. mentioned Devin Haney, George Kambosos Jr., and Ryan Garcia as potential foes in 2022. Not included on that list? Lomachenko. And "Loma" feels like he knows why Mayweather didn't breathe his name, as the legendary pugilist has said in the past that he'll never match Davis against Lomachenko.
“Because they know I have real skills," Lomachenko told a group of reporters ahead of Saturday's bout against former IBF titlist Richard Commey.
“I always said I’m open for the fight [with Davis], but you know boxing politics. You know we have different promoters. Mayweather said, every time he said, ‘Hey, we have our way and forget about [me]. We’re making money.'"
Davis (26-0, 24 KOs), when asked about his first appearance of the new year, made it clear that he'd be willing to face any of the top boxers at 135 pounds. Lomachenko is definitely on the list of premier fighters in the weight class. However, Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs), a three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, still isn’t convinced in the slightest bit that they’ll finally meet inside the ring because the native of Ukraine feels Davis is being sheltered from taking on the elite competition.
“They fight only on Showtime, and they’re fighting with guys who they believe they can win this fight,” Lomachenko explained. “They pair their fighters with opponents they feel their boxers can [beat].”