While Lomachenko could indeed be Arum’s next cash cow, he needs to spend a lot of money to promote his fights and to introduce him to the pay-per-view (PPV) buyers.
The best way to promote Lomachennko is to get him a fight with an established name in the PPV market, one who has a good tract record in attracting PPV buyers to his fights.
The only fighter in the present Top Rank stable who can help promote Lomachenko is none other than Manny Pacquiao, who has just retired from boxing to embrace a new career in politics.
Arum is waiting for a word from Pacquiao about his immediate career plan saying he is ready to set a fight for Pacquiao if he decides to continue fighting.
“He has to tell me if he is going to fight and if he does, I will get him a fight,” Arum told Nick Giongko of Tempo. Read more:
There is little doubt Lomachenko’s popularity will soar overnight if he bags a lucrative fight against Pacquiao who remains a top PPV attraction.
But there are hurdles that both Pacquaio and Lonachenko have to make. Foremost is the disparity in the weight limits where they belong.
Pacquiao has been fighting in the 147-pound limit (welterweight) while Lomachenko is three notches below the welterweight limit (Junior Lightweight).
Lomachenko’s last fight against Roman Martinez of Puerto Rico was fought at the Junior Lightweight limit of 130 pounds.
Pacquiao would probably go down to Light Welterweight (140 pounds) which is actually his fighting weight but he would likely oppose the idea of coming down further to 135 pounds (Lightweight) as it would entail a huge weight loss from 147.
To face Pacquiao at the Light Welterweight limit , Lomachengko needs to jump two notches (junior and full lightweight) up. How Lomachenko would morph to 140 pounds would be his biggest hurdle. But given his frame, he should be able to do it with sufficient time and proper conditioning.
Pacquiao and Lomachenko have almost the same height and reach.
