Lomachenko-Linares fight still on the table

While it seemed recently that a deal for Vasyl Lomachenko to face Jorge Linares on May 12 was dead, that may not be the case, and the fight could still go on the same date if things work out.

Dan Rafael reports that ESPN is considering allowing an earlier than normal time slot for Lomachenko-Linares on May 12, which would keep that card from going head-to-head with a Golden Boy show on HBO the same night. Linares is co-promoted by Golden Boy, thus the issue.

Eric Gomez of Golden Boy had this to say:

“We have reached out to executives at ESPN to see if they would be willing to move up the start time for the Linares-Lomachenko card so it doesn’t interfere with the HBO telecast, and they told us they are considering it. We’re doing our part so that we can try to make this fight. We know it’s a big fight and we want to give the fans the fights that they want. So let’s have a really great fight and a great day of boxing on the two biggest platforms for boxing, which is ESPN and HBO. ESPN loves the idea and said they’re considering it, so we are hopeful we can work it out.”

Lomachenko (10-1, 8 KO) and Linares (44-3, 27 KO) both want the fight, it’s a good matchup that fans seem to want, and Top Rank and Teiken (Linares’ other co-promoter) have already pretty much agreed to a deal, reportedly, and had no issues hashing it out. Even Golden Boy doesn’t seem to have any actual objections.

The date was the only thing in the way. Now, it seems the time slot is the only thing in the way. Hopefully, it works out, and we get a big night of boxing.