By Miguel Maravilla
Two-division world champion and WBO super featherweight champion Ukraine’s Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) and two-time world title challenger Miguel “Escorpión” Marriaga ( 25-2, 21 KOs) of Columbia held a press conference Wednesday at the the newly designed Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to announce their August 5th fight at the Microsoft Theater at LA Live in Los Angeles live on ESPN.
“We will bring back boxing to mainstream. Lomachenko-Marriaga will bring tremendous action August 5th all over the world and we at Top Rank are glad to be bringing this event to you,” Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum said.
“I am ready to get back in the ring to fight Marriaga and I am ready to fight. I think many around the world will get the chance to see Vasyl Lomachenko. I am ready to show that I am the best in boxing,” Lomachenko stated.
“For me, it’s a great opportunity vs. a great fighter like Lomachenko. We are here coming to fight,” Marriaga commented.
Lomachenko is coming off a dominant stoppage over Jason Sosa this past April. After failing to land a rematch with Mexican veteran warrior Orlando Salido, Lomachenko and his team turned to the Colombian. Marriaga went the distance in his last fight in his shot at a world title as he came up short against WBO featherweight champ Oscar Valdez.
“It’s hard to get fights and I am frustrated we wanted the fight with Salido but we settled with Marriaga. I think he is a good tough fighter with a big desire to fight. When he accepted this fight right away I knew it would accept it. It shows he has the balls to fight,” Lomachenko told Fightnews.com®.
“He is the favorite but we are here to fight and give a war,” Marriaga said.
Also at the press conference two-time world title challenger Ray”Sugar” Beltran of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico as he takes on two-time interim WBA super featherweight world champion Bryan Vasquez (36-2, 19 KOs), of San Jose, Costa Rica in the co-feature bout. For Beltran there is more than just a title opportunity at stake. Securing his chances at a world title shot will only help him achieve the American dream.
“I’m happy to be fighting on this card. There is always a lot on the line. I ‘m feeling great, winning this fight will secure my opportunity to get a title shot and hopefully it helps me get my green card. See you all August 5th,” Beltran commented at the press conference.
“With a win here a title shot is secure and that will help me continue to make a living here,” Beltran told Fightnews.com®. afterward.
Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla