Vasiliy Lomachenko has received the status of WBC ‘Franchise’ champion, with the governing body naming Devin Haney as the WBC title holder.
The Ukrainian star (14-1, 10KOs) defeated Luke Campbell to add the vacant WBC belt to his WBA ‘super’ and WBO lightweight titles at The O2 in August, but last month Devin Haney became the WBC interim champion by stopping Zaur Abdullaev in New York.
The unbeaten American has now been elevated to full champion after a ruling at the WBC’s annual convention this week.
The move came at the request of Top Rank, Inc., who promotes Lomachenko and is grooming the three-division titlist and pound-for-pound entrant for what was previously pitched as an undisputed lightweight championship showdown with the winner of the December 14 clash between IBF titlist Richard Commey and unbeaten mandatory challenger Teofimo Lopez.
A statement read: “Vasiliy Lomachenko has become the World Boxing’s Franchise Champion.
“The announcement was made at the WBC’s 57th annual Convention, at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun on Wednesday.” – Sky Sports
