Plans are being made for former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko to return to the ring this summer vs. lightweight contender Masayoshi Nakatani, a source told ESPN on Tuesday.
A firm date hadn't been finalized, but the bout is expected to headline a summer ESPN card.
This will be Lomachenko's first fight since he lost his lightweight titles in a unanimous decision defeat to Teofimo Lopez in October. Lomachenko (14-2, 10 KOs) had shoulder surgery following the bout, but he's expected to be 100 percent for his fight with Nakatani.
This will be another big-stage fight for Nakatani (19-1, 13 KOs), an exciting Japanese action fighter coming off a December knockout victory over Felix Verdejo in a fight of the year contender. His lone loss was a unanimous decision defeat to Lopez, in which his size and length gave the young champion some trouble.
Lomachenko-Nakatani will be an interesting clash of styles. Nakatani will have a 6-inch height and reach advantage over Lomachenko, who is one of the sport's best technical fighters.