Lomachenko not interested in Pacquiao bout

NEW YORK: Three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is eager to notch another career first on Saturday as he attempts to unify two belts when he fights Jose Pedraza.

“It’s the next step for my dream,” said Lomachenko, the World Boxing Association lightweight world champion who brings a record of 11-1 with nine knockouts to the bout against Puerto Rico’s World Boxing Organization champ Pedraza.

“It’s the next step for my goal, and after this fight I think my dreams come a little bit closer to me.”

Lomachenko weighed in on Friday at 134.4 pounds (60.96 kg) and Pedraza at 134.2. A victory could put Lomachenko on a path to a 135-pound clash with unbeaten Mikey Garcia.

One thing the Ukrainian isn’t contemplating is a meeting – at any weight – with Filipino great Manny Pacquiao.

“There are a lot of good fighters to fight who are comparable to me,” Lomachenko told reporters in New York on Thursday. “I’m not disrespecting Pacquiao. He’s old. I think his career is done. I don’t want to become a legend in boxing because of him.” — AFP

Syahruddin Shamsudin (centre) is all smiles after winning the Megalanes 169 & Below Skin’s Challenge Grand Final on Thursday night at Megalanes Sarawak, E-Mart Batu Kawa. He posted a total of 1,620 pins over the nine-game finale with scores of 209, 164, 180, 186, 192, 123, 159, 172 and 215. Thirteen pins behind was Abang Muhd Fakhri (right) and in third position was Marzainah Jayamara (left) with 1,595 pins. Finishing from fourth to 12th were Mazlyana Zainul, Abdul Aziz Bin Kadri, Zulfadli Sukardi, Mohd Haroun Ponik, Mohd Abdul Hadi Ridhuan, Mohd Shahruddin Zaidil, Nur Syazwani Marais, Ruhana Bujang and Zac Chai.