A possible super-fight with Gervonta Davis and a rematch with Devin Haney — two bouts fans hoped to see — disappeared from view when Vasiliy Lomachenko announced his retirement earlier this year.
In June, the Ukrainian maestro decided to hang up the gloves after a hugely successful career in both the amateur and professional ranks.
Fittingly, his final fight in May produced another masterclass in the sweet science, and one that earned him another world title. At 37, he proved levels above George Kambosos Jr in the Australian’s homeland, stopping him in the 11th round to win the IBF lightweight belt.
Had he continued, a host of mega-fights awaited him, but speaking at the recent WBO convention Lomachenko explained why he chose to walk away.
“I wanted to be finished with boxing. My goal was undisputed world champion, and I understand after Haney, I don’t have a chance anymore. I lost motivation. I can’t be undisputed world champion; inside me, I finished with boxing.”
Lomachenko’s first two defeats, to Orlando Salido and Teofimo Lopez, came with far less controversy than his points loss to Haney in May 2023.
With the undisputed lightweight title on the line at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the pair produced a world-class boxing clinic that became a Fight of the Year contender. Haney got the nod, but many felt Lomachenko had done enough to win.
In the end, Lomachenko’s final record stood at 18 wins from 21 fights, becoming a three-division world champion at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight along the way.
