Wednesday 21 March 2018 20:26, UK
Ukraine's Vasyl Lomachenko will challenge Jorge Linares for the WBA lightweight title at New York's Madison Square Garden on May 12.
The 30-year-old, widely considered the world's finest fighter since the retirement of Floyd Mayweather and Andre Ward, can become a three-weight world champion in only his 12th professional fight.
In Venezuelan Linares, 32, he has also been matched with another of the world's leading fighters and one in the finest form of his career, as he has demonstrated with victories over British trio Luke Campbell, Anthony Crolla and Kevin Mitchell in the space of a little over two years.
The fight with Linares also follows the best victory of Lomachenko's career, in December against Guillermo Rigondeaux when after six rounds the Cuban became his fourth successive opponent to retire.
"We are very excited about the fight," said Lomachenko. "I am looking forward to May 12 in New York to make my debut in the big arena at Madison Square Garden."
Linares, himself a three-weight world champion, said: "Not only will I demonstrate why I'm the best lightweight in the world, but also that I'm one of the best pound-for-pound fighters. I have the speed, skill and power to win."
The day before in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Lomachenko's friend and compatriot Oleksandr Usyk fights Russia's Murat Gassiev in the final of the cruiserweight edition of the World Boxing Super Series.
