By Gregory Stangrit

Trainer Rudy Hernandez, who works with WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters (25-0, 21KOs), is not in favor of seeing the feared puncher face Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1, 1KOs), the WBO's champion, in the immediate future.

Last month Walters made a big statement with a sixth round knockout of Nonito Donaire, who was once regarded as one of the best pound for pound boxers in the sport.

Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and viewed as one of the best amateur fighters in history, capture a world title in only his third pro fight with a twelve round decision of Gary Russell Jr. in June. Lomachenko return on November 22nd in Macau, when he faces Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (52-1, 33KOs) on the Pacquiao-Algieri undercard.

Hernandez would like to see both fighters get handsomely paid for such a contest and in order to do that the two boxers would have to rack up a few more significant wins.

"I don't really like that fight [being next]. I think it's a very difficult fight. But Nicholas Walters doesn't care - he will fight anybody and that's what fighters do. If you ask Lomachenko, he would tell you that he doesn't care who he fights, because fighters...that's what they do. But I seem them going in different directions right now, and then maybe do it down the road when it's more profitable for everybody," Hernandez said.

Lomachenko already suffered his first pro loss in March of this year, when he lost a twelve round split decision to Orlando Salido. That was Lomachenko's first title attempt.

Hernandez feels the loss could have easily been avoided - if Lomachenko's corner would have made the proper adjustments during the fight.

"I think he's a great fighter. I don't think he should have lost to Salido. I think he should have been a world champion [that night]. But unfortunately, when you have a fighter who is so talented and does so many good things...no changes were made in the fight. Why? You have such a great fighter. No changes were made. I hope he learned from those mistakes, and so did his corner, because it's a team. It's team work," Hernandez said.

Gregory Stangrit covers boxing for Allboxing.ru