The Lomachenko-Sosa bout will headline a three-bout HBO card.
The show will open with a cruiserweight encounter matching WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk -- a 2012 Olympic gold medalist making his second pro title defense -- and former U.S. Olympian Mike Hunter.
The 30-year-old Usyk has 10 KOs in 11 career victories and is slotted first at 200 pounds by the Independent World Boxing Rankings. Hunter, who’s 12-0 with eight stoppage wins, is slotted well below at No. 26 and has never faced a top-30 opponent.
“I want to have all four cruiserweight titles in the future,” Usyk said. “Any of the other titles holders I’m willing to face.”
The second bout, at light heavyweight, pits Ukrainian export Oleksandr Gvozdyk against Cuban-born Miami resident Yuniesky Gonzalez.
Gvozdyk is 12-0 as a pro and has won six straight by KO, while Gonzalez started his career with 14 straight wins and has now won two in a row -- both by first-round KOs -- since a two-fight losing skid.
“(Gonzalez) is strong, experienced, puts pressure on you, tries to drive you into the ropes,” said Gvozdyk, who’s ranked ninth by the IWBR compared to his foe at No. 48. “He’s a tough guy and I have to deal with him. I work hard every single day trying to be the best in my division.”
Lomachenko is an overwhelming main event favorite according to the numbers guys at the Bovada online sportsbook, where it’ll take a $2,500 wager to return a $100 profit on him, while a $100 outlay on Sosa would return a $1,000 windfall for an upset.
