Orlando Salido’s representative Sean ‘Knucklehead’ Gibbons has reiterated the reason why a rematch with Vasyl Lomachenko failed to transpire.
Mexican Salido remains one of only two boxers ever to defeat formidable pound for pound king Lomachenko – amateur or pro.
The victory came in only Lomachenko’s second pro fight for the vacant WBO featherweight title.
Lomachenko gave away poundage to the bigger Salido when failing to stipulate a weight hydration clause and was surprised by the veteran over twelve rounds.
An instant return seemed on the cards, although Gibbons has now stated Top Rank’s unwillingness to pay the correct purse to Salido was to blame.
“Top Rank was paying s*** money for the rematch so we said f*** off,” explained Gibbons.
Five years have passed since the pair traded blows at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The last time the fight was spoken of was in 2017.
The pair fought simultaneously in what would turn out to be Salido’s final fight.
As Lomachenko was giving Guillermo Rigondeaux a beatdown at Madison Square Garden, Salido’s ring spell was ended by a ninth round stoppage against Miguel Roman.
Prior to the event, Lomachenko had outlined his own feelings on never getting the chance to avenge his solitary pro loss.
EXCUSE
“I don’t think he’s going to fight me because he already found himself a good excuse. He’s been saying, ‘I don’t need this bout. Lomachenko needs this bout. So because Lomachenko needs this bout you need to pay me good money.’ That is just his excuse and Salido is nobody now,” said Lomachenko at the time.
He then stated his intentions to move up, which he did successfully in both weight classes.
“I already said that I am ready to fight at 130 or 135, but that is not my job.
“Whoever is going to be put in front of me I will fight. It is not my job to organize the bouts. It is not my job to choose opponents.
“My promoters organize the bouts. Whoever they put in front of me I am ready to fight at 130 or 135. I never passed on any of the bouts. I never passed on any of the opponents.”
Now the world’s number one fighter, ‘Loma’ has already written his legacy as a force in the lighter weights.
The Ukrainian will be up there with the best of all time, although Salido will always be able to claim his place as the first man to inflict a reverse on Lomachenko in the pro ranks.
