Vasyl Lomachenko is set to end his retirement next year as he attempts to achieve his dream of becoming an undisputed world champion, and four-division conqueror Roy Jones Jr. has cast his verdict on whether the slick Ukrainian can be successful in his comeback.
‘Loma’ ruled at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight during his professional career, jumping in at the deep end by competing for world honours in just his second pro bout.
Whilst unsuccessful in his attempt to become the fastest world champion in boxing history, Lomachenko went on to become a pound-for-pound star by accelerating through the weight divisions.
He eventually settled at lightweight, where he challenged Devin Haney for the undisputed title in 2023 and lost a controversial decision. The Ukrainian had just one more outing against George Kambosos in May 2024 before hanging up the gloves a year later.
Now, the 38-year-old is set to make his comeback, targeting a ring return at 130lbs in February and then eyeing up a shot at both unified world champion O’Shaquie Foster and the undisputed super-featherweight title.
Speaking on the Hall of Game podcast, Jones said that Lomachenko is the type of boxer that he believes has the capability to overcome WBC, WBO and IBF titleholder Foster.
“You have to add in the depth because he does have such a deep amateur career, he does have a lot of knowledge and that is what carried him as long as it did – because of his knowledge and the way that he fights.
“That is why they called him ‘Hi-Tech’, because he was very technical in the way that he did things. If he can make that modification, to use that ‘Hi-Tech’ in a different way now, he could be a problem for O’Shaquie because O’Shaquie showed you that he is a very sharp guy and, to me, O’Shaquie is peaking right now.
“That is the wrong time to really mess with him but if anybody has a chance to mess with him, it would be somebody like ‘Loma’, who has that deep amateur background and has seen everything five or six times.”
However, Jones maintained that the veteran must make adjustments upon his return if he is to get the better of the American, with Lomachenko’s three prior losses laying out the blueprint to defeating him.
“He has to fix those problems or he is not going to make it because everybody knows how to get him. So, if you don’t evolve and fix that, then you are not going to be successful.”
Lomachenko’s February outing is expected to be against Charly Suarez, whilst Foster could take on the victor of next month’s WBA title bout between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball in an undisputed title showdown.
