Otabek Khlomatov wasn’t precisely talked about by identify.
Any reference of the unbeaten featherweight surrounding final weekend’s Leigh Wooden-Mauricio Lara rematch was restricted to “obligatory protection to be ordered.” Permission was granted by the WBA for Wooden and Lara to as soon as once more meet, with the understanding that the winner must subsequent defend versus Uzkbekistan’s Khlomatov because the number-one ranked featherweight contender.
After the win, Wooden talked about the potential of a stadium battle at Metropolis Floor in his Nottingham hometown. He acknowledged the reference to a compulsory title protection however solely particularly talked about desired showdowns with countryman Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 7KOs) and reigning IBF featherweight titlist Luis Alberto Lopez (28-2, 16KOs)
“I don’t care that (Wooden) didn’t point out my identify,” Khlomatov advised BoxingScene.com. “It solely issues that he is aware of he now has to battle me.
“I am very happy that I am lastly within the place and lined as much as battle for the Championship of the world. It did not matter to me who was gonna win.”
Wooden (27-3, 16KOs) gained through lopsided unanimous determination this previous Saturday at AO Enviornment in Manchester. The win allowed the 34-year-old to reclaim the WBA featherweight title he misplaced to Mexico Metropolis’s Lara (26-3-1, 19KOs) simply three months in the past through one-punch, seventh-round knockout simply three months in the past in his Nottingham hometown.
Lara’s come-from-behind knockout win to unseat Wooden befell two weeks previous to Khlomatov’s one-sided, fifth-round knockout of Thomas Ward on March 4 in Newcastle, England. Khlomatov (11-0, 10KOs) floored the unbeaten Ward (33-1-1, 5KOs) thrice earlier than he pressured the Brit’s nook to actually throw within the towel at 2:58 into the fifth spherical of their ultimate title eliminator.
“I proved already that I might go to my opponent’s hometown and nonetheless knock him out,” famous Khlomatov. “I am younger and that is just the start of my journey.”