Vasyl Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KO) is one of the most talented boxers there has ever been. The 36-year-old Ukrainian has been double olympic champion (2008 and 2012) and He has managed to be professional world champion in three different divisions (feather, superfeather and light). What’s more, on his rented field he won his first title in his third fight. He is a prodigy who is in the final part of his career. His quality makes him very loved by the public, but since February 2022, boxing has not been on his mind most of the time. The Russian invasion of his country has caused a great change in him.
Loma, like many other high-level Ukrainian athletes, left everything and went to his country to put himself on the front line of battle. At that point he was not a champion. In October 2020 he lost, surprisingly, to Teófimo López and was on the way to having a great opportunity again. His participation in the war cut off his progression. The situation, which was expected to be short, dragged on over time and all the athletes had to leave the country and return to work. Lomachenko was one of those who most resisted doing it. He did not travel to the United States, where he does his training, until the summer of 2022. In October he fought, made contact with the ring again and then thought about a great fight. Devin Haney appeared there.
The American was the undisputed lightweight champion and the fight was closed. It is the only thing left to do, practically, for the Ukrainian. The 135 pounds are evidence that they are too big for him, but the light weight is where the money is. The size difference weighed on him against López and also against Haney. Loma lost, but amid great controversy and many saw him as the winner. That fight was in May 2023. Since then the fighter has been far away from the media spotlight. He has accompanied his friend Olek Usyk when he has fought, but little else. His social networks are an example of how the war in Ukraine has changed his life.
Lomachenko always had a strong religious belief, but since his last lawsuit he has shown it much more. His publications of religious services are recurrent and he accompanies images to encourage the Ukrainian troops with phrases from the Bible. What’s more, in his Instagram bio, he has removed any references and sports a simple “Orthodox.” Faith is helping him to endure this difficult ordeal.
The Ukrainian, a megastar, has disappeared from the spotlight and his promoter, Bob Arum, has been in charge of transmitting his designs. The logical thing was that after fighting in May he would be in the ring at the end of the year to claim an opportunity again. George Kambosos, from whom Haney took all four lightweight titles, was the obvious fight, but her handler “didn’t find her attractive.” Everything changed when Haney abandoned his belts to move up to lightweight. The IBF had Lomachenko as number 2 on its lists and Kambosos, number 3. Number 1 was vacant so there was no doubt: that was the fight.
With a medal at stake (IBF Lightweight World Cup) it was clear that the fight was of interest and the agreement was simple. Top Rank has business with both fighters, so a deal was reached quickly. Australia, a country where boxing moves millions, was the right place. Lomachenko didn’t care. The duel will be this Saturday, May 11. We have reached this date almost without realizing it. In the country, obviously, there is talk about the fight, but in the rest of the world it has gone almost unnoticed. Loma was very active, but in the last two years he has disappeared from the spotlight so much that he doesn’t even sell his fights like he used to. He has passed by again. Beyond some publications we don’t know anything else about the Ukrainian.
In purely sporting terms, The duel is practically all or nothing for Lomachenko. A new defeat could cause his retirement or make him rethink his future a lot. The lightweight one is too big for him, but go back to the super featherweight (category in which I would not have such a disadvantage) It wouldn’t be very lucrative.. Such striking fights would not be seen. Despite everything, and his condition being unknown, Loma is the clear favorite. Kambosos has been a one-night boxer and Haney gave him a review in each of his fights, yet he is a tough fighter, who puts pressure on him and who will make Lomachenko have to use his best skills to win. If the Ukrainian is at a good level he is a big favorite, if he fails anything can happen. It’s all or nothing, which puts extra pressure. Loma returns to the spotlight to reign. It’s your only way out.
