Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather was not impressed with Lomachenko's performance as he told the Ukrainian to move up in weight Getty

KEY POINTS

  • Lomachenko called out Mayweather's fighter Gervonta Davis.
  • Mayweather challenged Lomachenko to move up in weight and face Garcia.
  • Meanwhile, Garcia is looking to replace "Money" as boxing's biggest star.

Floyd Mayweather has responded to WBO junior lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko's call out by challenging him to move up in weight and face Mikey Garcia.

Lomachenko staked a claim for being boxing's pound-for-pound best after he successfully defended his title in dominating fashion against Guillermo Rigondeaux on 9 December.

The Ukrainian was praised by the boxing world following his win with media outlets even comparing him to Mayweather during his 130-pound days.

However, "Money" was not impressed with his performance as he somewhat mocked him for a fighting a smaller fighter.

Lomachenko would then call out the 40-year-old on Tuesday (19 December) before clarifying that he would have loved to face the American in his prime, but was referring to Gervonta Davis, who fights under Mayweather.

"It would have been an honor to fight you in your prime but I'm not talking about you," Lomachenko tweeted. "Please stop hiding your fighter."

Mayweather has since responded, stating that Lomachenko should instead, move up in weight like all "great fighters" and face unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Garcia which has long been touted as a mega fight.

"If Lomachenko is what they say he is, I think they should make him and Mikey Garcia," Mayweather told FightHype.com. "I mean, that's just my honest opinion. I think Lomachenko and Mikey Garcia should lock up.

"Great fighters always move up. We call that legendary. A lot of fighters are taking shots at Tank [Gervonta Davis]. At the end of the day, Tank is not perfect, but his boxing record is."

Meanwhile, Garcia is looking to emulate Mayweather by becoming boxing's next big star.

The Mexican-American holds a 37-0 record and is looking to become a four-division champion when he takes on IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets on 10 February.

"I know that I have the possibility to be the biggest star in boxing like a Floyd Mayweather, and I think I'm on track to accomplish that," Garcia was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"I don't see a lot of guys in the sport with the resume of accomplishments that I have. I'm going to continue take on the best and beat my opponents convincingly."

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