Luke Campbell ordered to fight unbeaten Ryan Garcia for WBC interim lightweight title with winner facing Haney
LUKE CAMPBELL has been ordered to face Ryan Garcia for the WBC ‘interim’ title – with the winner then fighting Devin Haney.
Brit Campbell, 32, was due to face 30-year-old Javier Fortuna in a title eliminator – but the Dominican will now meet Jorge Linares, 34, in August.
It led to the WBC instead handing No3 ranked challenger Garcia, 21, the chance to fight for the interim belt, with promoter Eddie Hearn tweeting the news.
Haney, 21, was handed the world title after lightweight king Vasiliy Lomachemko – who beat Campbell last year – was elevated to ‘Franchise’ champion.
The American suffered an injury last year ruling him out of defending his belt, opening the door for Campbell to earn his shot at interim champion.
Garcia has 17 knockouts in his 20 consecutive wins, and fought as recently as February.
Olympic gold medalist Campbell, while more experienced, has not been in the ring since losing to Lomachenko, 32, last August.
Hearn and Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar De La Hoya now have 30 days to agree terms for the fight until it goes to purse bids.
Garcia tweeted: “I’m finally getting to fight a southpaw my favorite fighters to fight! Bring it on Luke Campbell.”
Most read in boxing
The American has a long-standing rivalry with Haney, with the rivals boxing each other five times in the amateurs.
But Campbell, who gave Lomachenko his greatest test since the Ukrainian lost his second career fight, tweeted: “Let’s go.”
Lomachenko is still in line to face IBF champion Teofimo Lopez this year, in a unification bout with four titles on the line.