Gervonta Davis vs Vasyl Lomachenko

Gervonta Davis and Vasyl Lomachenko looked destined to be fighting each other earlier this year.

Negotiations were opened in June between representatives of Loma and Tank for a proposed WBA and IBF lightweight world title unification clash for the back end of this year.

It's understood conversations between long-time promotional rivals Bob Arum's Top Rank (who promote Lomachenko) and Al Haymon's PBC (who represent Davis) were going well.

However, talks came to an abrupt halt in July when Lomachenko opted to take some time away from the sport.

Lomachenko's manager Egis Klimas insisted that his client 'wasn't in the mood to fight Davis right now' and wouldn't be returning to the ring until 2025.

The development came amid reports that Lomachenko and Davis had reached an agreement.

But Top Rank President Todd duBoef insists negotiations were only in the early stages with nothing more than a 'framework' in place.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, duBoef said: "We were all for it.

"We had met with Tank Davis and multiple people from PBC.

"Loma is at a place in his career where he is seasoned, he's seen it all, he's done it all.

"But one thing he's not done is unify all of the titles and go undisputed.

"And I think he really wanted that, that is why his disappointment in the Haney fight was there.

"But he wanted to take a pause and we are all for it."

Asked how close Lomachenko vs Davis was to getting done, duBoef replied: "There was a framework that was relatively simple to put together and could be done.

"But at the end of the day, it is down to the athletes.

"There is no agreement in place. By framework I mean similar to how we did Wilder and Fury, there was a framework to the dynamic of the two of us coming together and creating a massive event between PBC and Top Rank.

"There is a framework to that and that is how it looks as a sketch.

"The details of it are different but you have a framework of how you work and that's a nice place to start."

Arum has since insisted that Lomachenko will compete in the first quarter of 2025.

Whether that will be against Davis is yet to be seen.

"I don't know, who knows," said duBoef when quizzed on the potential of Lomachenko vs Davis taking place next year.

https://talksport.com/boxing/2091613...s-todd-duboef/