It was not difficult for a long time to think if the 135 lb. The division could ever get to what discerned the needed ultimate elimination showdown in Mikey Garcia and Vasyl Lomachenko.

For a sliver of a second, the two of them divided the four major alphabet titles and, when this particular year started, were the two amazing lightweights in the world.

Even when Garcia thought what finally was a vainglorious attempt to move forward to welterweight and unseat Errol Spence prior this year, it was still not difficult to wonder if the lightweight complete the line could even be achieved.

Being realistic, it may never have occurred under any situations. Top Rank and the PBC do not get together often for huge fights. Garcia has been out of the ring for the remaining of 2019 after the Spence fight, and his revival in 2020 is not being discussed for the lightweight division.

Feel free to think of it is yet one more what if to include to the pile.

Moving into a new year, the resolution of the lightweight portion will have to arrive from elsewhere. WBO/WBA and Ring Magazine belt-holder Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KO) is the consensus leader of the class.

The Future at Lightweight and on Saturday the Real main Event

There are not many battles about that. There also is not much argument to made yet for the Ukrainian impresario having cleared out 135 lbs.

He has won three of the four most essential belts, even if the WBC transformed his title into what amounts to an affiliate branding designation and did not include room for Devin Haney (24-0, 15 KO) to give them some fees too.

This Saturday (ESPN, 9 PM EST), the lone belt not found from Lomachenko’s mantle will be included in one of the last exciting fights of the year.

While it is practically the semi-final, feel free to think of it as the real main event this weekend. It is the battle with the most potential for fireworks.

It is the one where a winner does not feel sure.