Luke Campbell vs Ryan Garcia – winner gets crack at Devin Haney
Olymic gold medallist Luke Campbell (20-3, 16KOs) has been ordered to face American Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17KOs) for the WBC 'interim' title – with the winner then fighting WBC World lightweight champ Devin Haney (24-0, 15KOs).
Brit Campbell, 32, was due to face 30-year-old Javier Fortuna in a title eliminator – but the Dominican will now meet Jorge Linares, 34, in August instead.
It led to the World Boxing Council handing No.3 ranked challenger Garcia the chance to fight for the interim belt, with promoter Eddie Hearn tweeting the news on July 1.
Haney, 21, was handed the world title after lightweight king Vasiliy Lomachenko – who beat Campbell last year – was elevated to 'Franchise' champion.
The American, known as 'The Dream', suffered an injury last year ruling him out of defending his belt, opening the door for Campbell to earn his shot at becoming an interim champion.
21-year-old 'Kingry', is highly-touted and tipped for big things in boxing. He has already won NABF Junior and NABF super featherweight titles, as well as the WBO NABO belt, before moving up to lightweight where he has now claimed another WBO NABO belt, along wth WBC Silver title. He was voted ESPN 'Prosect of the Year 2017'.
The Californian 'Flash' fought as recently as February this year when he KO'd world title contender Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2) in just 80 seconds in the first defence of his WBC Silver strap.
Luke Campbell MBE, while more experienced, has not been in the ring since losing to Vasiliy Lomachenko, 32, last August. It was 'Cool Hand's second crack at becoming world champion, having fallen just short to Jorge Linares (42-3) in 2017, but this time he was dropped in the 11th and outpointed widely on the scorecards in what was a cracking contest to watch.
Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn and Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar De La Hoya now have 30 days to agree terms for the fight until it goes to purse bids.
Garcia tweeted: "I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on Luke Campbell."
The American has a long-standing rivalry with Devin Haney, with the rivals boxing each other five times in the amateurs.
But Campbell, who gave Lomachenko his greatest test since the Ukrainian lost his second career fight, tweeted back: "Let’s go."
Lomachenko is still in line to face IBF champion Teofimo Lopez this year, in a unification bout with four titles on the line.
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