Back
Vasiliy Lomachenko has announced plans to return to the ring in 2027 as he makes one final attempt to fulfil his ambition of becoming an undisputed world champion.
The former three-division champion retired in June 2025, aged 37, having struggled with injuries and motivation after failing to unify all four belts at lightweight.
Many believed Lomachenko should have achieved that feat in 2023 when he challenged Devin Haney for the undisputed 135lb championship. The Ukrainian suffered a controversial unanimous decision defeat and was visibly distraught as he left the ring at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena.
1h ago
Lomachenko bounced back the following year, stopping George Kambosos Jnr to claim the vacant IBF lightweight title after Haney had moved up to 140lbs. However, with the division's other titles scattered and his undisputed ambitions seemingly out of reach, Lomachenko eventually called time on his career.
Now, at 38, he has had a change of heart.
“I woke up one day and thought, ‘Now I am 38 years old and I need to try one more time to become undisputed champion,’” Lomachenko said on the DAZN broadcast while attending O'Shaquie Foster's victory over Emanuel Navarrete.
“Because if I wait until I am 40 or 41 years old then it will be too late. That's why I made the decision to come back.”
Lomachenko was never a natural lightweight, having spent much of his career competing in the lower weight classes. For his comeback, he intends to return to junior lightweight, where he first captured the WBO title in 2016 and made four successful defences.
“[I retired] because I was tired from boxing. This weight class of 135lbs is not my natural weight,” Lomachenko said. “Now I am back, but I am back at 130lbs in my natural weight class. That's why I'm ready.
“I will check next year and maybe next year I will fight and I will check my condition. Usual preparation looks very good, but no one knows what will happen with one month more or two months of preparation. We'll see, but right now everything is good.”
Lomachenko was ringside to witness Foster's victory over Navarrete, which saw the American unify the WBC, WBO and IBF junior lightweight titles.
With Foster now holding three of the four major belts at 130lbs, he could provide Lomachenko with a route towards the undisputed championship that has eluded him throughout his professional career.
Asked whether he would be interested in facing Foster, Lomachenko's response was emphatic: “Absolutely.”
Back
Szczyt
| Oświadczenie o prywatności Warunki użytkowania Kontakt z nami |
Odśwież
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Football Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Football Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.