What Lomachenko’s injury means for the Lightweight division

135 pound WBA Champion Vasyl Lomachenko will likely miss the rest of 2018 with a torn labrum that he will require surgery for.

Easily ESPN’s most hyped fighter, the loss of Lomachenko deals the network a blow in their revived efforts to push boxing with Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotions. The injury was suffered during the WBA title match with Jorge Linares on May 12. Lomachenko was scheduled to fight a unification bout versus WBO champion Raymundo Beltran on August 25, but of course that is now off until possibly December, at best, but don’t count on it.

Bob Arum may want to ease his prized fighter into the unification bout and land him a tune-up match. Ray Beltran isn’t going anywhere soon, and one wouldn’t be too surprised if he doesn’t line up a risky replacement for his August fight date, if he fights at all. Beltran also is a brawler who won’t likely be here for taking it easy on Lomachenko in his first fight back from injury. Nor should you expect from a man who was once fighting to stay in this country.

Additionally, WBC champion Mikey Garcia has his own unification date with Robert Easter Jr. in July. With Garcia easily being one of the most dangerous fighters at 135 pounds right now, it may be wise for Arum’s stable to ensure as many belts stay within their stable as possible until Lomachenko is ready to fight again. A win for Garcia over Easter, Jr. may make it harder for Arum not to do business with his former client.

“If [Garcia] wants to fight, let him call me and I’ll give him a number. If he doesn’t like the number – f*** it – I ain’t negotiating! It’s because of the way he negotiates. If he’s loyal to Showtime and they’ve been good to him, let him be loyal to Showtime – just don’t bother me”–Bob Arum

With the network wars in boxing gaining steam, Arum could use this time with what he has left of the summer to showcase some of his other lightweight talent. Arum has a few undefeated prospects would are largely undercard guys such as Joseph Adorno, Andy Vences, and Gabriel Felix Flores, Jr. . He also has 25-year-old Puerto Rican fighter Felix Verdejo, whom perhaps could be ready for the next step.

The Lightweight division won’t miss, nor slow down due to Lomachenko being sidelined.  It would be a good idea for Arum to showcase some of his other talent in the division this summer in the event Mikey Garcia becomes a 2-belt champion in the division.