Tuesday 5 December 2017 13:48, UK
Bob Arum hopes Vasyl Lomachenko will get the chance to avenge his only professional loss and rematch Orlando Salido if they both come through their respective bouts on December 9.
'Hi-Tech' will defend his WBO super-featherweight title against Guillermo Rigondeaux at Madison Square Garden, New York, while Salido takes on Miguel Roman on the same night at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports.
Lomachenko would have become the fastest ever world champion in only his second professional fight back in March 2014, only for the Mexican to claim the WBO featherweight strap on a split decision.
Salido is yet to pick up a world title at 130lbs and although Arum is going to offer him the chance, the promoter is not confident the rematch will happen.
After this fight on December 9, against Rigondeaux, we will make another offer to Salido for the rematch with Lomachenko
"After this fight on December 9, against Rigondeaux, we will make another offer to Salido for the rematch with Lomachenko," Arum said on ESPN Deportes.
"I think that Salido is not very anxious to fight against Lomachenko, because every time we have proposed the fight, he answers us with some number [for his purse] and we agree on what his purse will be, and then he comes back asking for more money."
Salido will fight in his 62nd bout this weekend in a scheduled 10-rounder, on the same bill as Stephen Smith's super-featherweight challenge against Francisco Vargas, and Tevin Farmer and Kenichi Ogawa fighting for the vacant IBF title.
The Mexican has been a professional since 1996 and first became world champion in 2010 after defeating Cristobal Cruz for the vacant IBF featherweight title. He then claimed the WBO featherweight belt three times and the WBO 'interim' super-featherweight title.
His list of opponents also include Juan Manuel Marquez, Robert Guerrero, Roman Martinez and Mikey Garcia, but despite his resume, Arum doubts whether Salido has the motivation to rematch Lomachenko.
"I don't think he has the desire to get in a ring with Lomachenko - that's his problem," Arum said.
"If he accepts it, we will make the fight and if not, then we will look for another opponent. It's as simple as that."
Watch Smith vs Vargas, Farmer vs Ogawa and Salido vs Roman, from Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action, from 3.20am, Sunday.
