Devin Haney could miss out on an undisputed clash with George Kambosos as Vasyl Lomachenko plans to face the Australian next.
Haney is looking to enforce a meeting with Kambosos after he retained his WBC 'regular' lightweight title with victory over JoJo Diaz.
Kambosos secured the titles with a shock victory over Teofimo Lopez and has exchanged with Haney over a potential duel this year.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is hopeful that he can push for a challenge from Lomachenko but it could rely on the future of the worsening coronavirus pandemic in Australia.
“Lomachenko wants to fight Kambosos, and we want to do that fight in Australia,” Arum told World Boxing News.
“We can raise a lot of money to do that fight, but we can’t do it in the face of Covid.The (Australian) government won’t give us money with Covid rampaging now through Australia.
"I really believe – I’m optimistic — that this is the last of the Covid with (the) omicron (variant) surging all over but not doing much damage.
“I’d like to do the fight in Sydney. We’ve explored ways that it could be done. I’m very optimistic. I know (Kambosos' manager) Peter Kahn is optimistic, but let’s see.”
Kambosos is planning a stadium-fight in his native Australia in the opening defence of his lightweight titles.
Lopez was initially touted in a potential rematch but the American will instead pursue options at super-lightweight.
Meanwhile the Australian has an eye on several options for his next fight including Lomachenko, Haney and young star Gervonta Davis.
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The 28-year-old is confident that a stadium mega-fight is what his fans would want to see after his previous fights being staged in the UK and America.
"It’s going to be in May. May is going to be a great time," Kambosos told Fox Sports Australia. "The build-up, the name, there’s going to be the build-up.
"We’ve got to really let Australia know what’s going on and how big this fight will be. This will be the biggest fight in Australian history. It’ll be a stadium fight in Sydney or Melbourne. We’re in negotiations with both, and it’ll be very exciting.
“I wouldn’t be real to the crowd if I told them I’m coming back for an easy fight. What for? I’m coming for the big names, and we’re already in negotiations with everybody."
