Pacman-Lomachenko at the right time

MANILA, Philippines — Bob Arum thinks that the explosive matchup between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Ukrainian dynamite Vasyl Lomachenko will take place – at the right time.

Pacquiao said a few days ago there are talks between the two camps, a claim that was quickly quashed by the manager of the two-time Olympic champion who is 10-1 as a pro.

Egis Klimas said the 29-year-old Lomachenko, now a top pound-for-pound fighter, has his own plans, and facing Pacquiao, who is turning 40 this year, is not in the radar.

Lomachenko’s manager said there’s nothing to gain beating Pacquiao. They referred to the Filipino senator as “an old man.”

Arum said Lomachenko’s father (Anatoly) will decide when is the right time to pit his son against Pacquiao, perhaps in the fall this year.

It could be at a catchweight of 140 pounds.

“Lomachenko will be having a fight that will probably be at 135 at the end of April,” Arum told the Las Vegas Review Journal a few days ago.

“Lomachenko’s father would then need to give him permission to fight Manny at 140 pounds in the fall,” said Arum, noting that the fight may not happen in April.

Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, is now a welterweight (147) while Lomachenko is a super-featherweight (130) but has plans to move up to lightweight (135).

Lomachenko can look back at history to make the fight with Pacquiao materialize.

In June of 2008, Pacquiao made his debut at 135 and beat David Diaz for the lightweight crown, and six months after he was inside the ring with Oscar dela Hoya, fighting at 147 pounds.

Pacquiao is returning to the ring in April, and is working on all the details – whom to fight and where.