It was announced earlier this month that Vasiliy Lomachenko is set to return to the sport, one year after announcing his retirement, and now the Ukrainian’s first target has been reported, with ‘Loma’ opting for a path towards a title.
Lomachenko claimed world honours at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight within his first 12 professional bouts, becoming a three-belt unified titleholder at 135lbs before a shock defeat to Teofimo Lopez.
However, the amateur extraordinaire eventually got his shot at achieving his dream and becoming an undisputed champion when he challenged Devin Haney for the throne in 2023, only to lose a controversial unanimous decision to the American.
The following year, Lomachenko defeated George Kambosos to capture the IBF lightweight crown, but that outing looked set to be his last, when the beloved southpaw technician hung up the gloves due to a ‘lack of motivation’.
Yet, at the age of 38 years old, Lomachenko is set to return after two years of inactivity, promising to be involved in ‘big fights only’, with a long-awaited clash with Gervonta Davis being mooted.
According to BoxingScene though, his comeback is hoped to be against ‘formidable challenge’ Charly Suarez, who notably came close to trumping Emanuel Navarrete when challenging for the WBO super-featherweight title last year.
The Filipino has twice been ordered a rematch with ‘Vaquero’, who now holds both the WBO and IBF marbles, ever since their no-contest, but he instead next faces Manuel Avila on iVB Boxing’s Saturday, July 11, card in San Francisco.
It is believed that victory over Suarez will allow Lomachenko to usurp Suarez and take his position in a showdown with Navarette for the unified super-featherweight titles – a fight which ‘Loma’ called for when his comeback was announced.
