Lomachenko vs Lopez done deal for October

The much-anticipated unification between WBC and WBA world lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and reigning IBF world lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez has finally been made following difficult negotiations between Top Rank and Team Lopez.

The bout which will determine the best lightweight in the world would either take place on October 17 or October 24 as both camps await the final decision by sports broadcast giant ESPN, according to Lopez’ father and trainer Teofimo Lopez Sr.

“The whole world will see it and we will get more recognition when we beat Lomachenko, and that’s good for us,” Lopez Sr. told boxingscene.com.

“It’s going to be a beautiful fight between two great fighters doing the best that they can do to win.”

In a conversation with boxingscene.com, Lopez’ manager David McWater was equally ecstatic that the fight finally came to fruition after it almost fell through because his fighter was asking for a higher guaranteed purse.

"We came to an agreement. The fight will take place later in October than October 3 but we have a deal. It was a complicated deal but we made it. Arum and I have been talking and we finally got it done,” said McWater.

“Bob was a complete gentleman. He never raised his voice to me. Everything with Bob was completely businesslike,” he added.

“We’re both businessmen. It was easy, not easy. You know? It was one of those things that everybody was a gentleman and polite. We had to make an arrangement and we got to something where everyone was happy.”

The fight between the two can be considered as a boxing purist’s dream come true given their outstanding skillset inside the ring. Lomachenko and Lopez have a combined professional record of 29-1 with 22 knockouts. -- BAP, GMA News