Lomachenko ready for Pacquiao fight

Vasyl Lomachenko, of Ukraine, celebrates after defeating Nicholas Walters, of Jamaica, in a WBO junior lightweight title boxing match Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, in Las Vegas. AP

Classy Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko is eager for more ring challenges, including a possible encounter with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao next year.

“I very much respect Manny Pacquiao,” Lomachenko told BoxingScene.com after his seventh round stoppage of Jamaican Nicholas Walters in New York Saturday. “And I would be very proud if somebody would give me that opportunity, to fight Manny Pacquiao.”

That somebody could very well be Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters and has been mentioning Lomachenko as a possible Pacquiao opponent late next year.

The only hitch could be weight as Lomachenko, the WBO 130-pound champion, said he’s not willing to fight past 135 pounds. Pacquiao is the WBO 147-pound king. Roy Luarca

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