Vasiliy Lomachenko is eyeing Charly Suarez for his return at super featherweight, yet defeating the Filipino contender will not settle the core mystery surrounding his comeback: How much elite ability remains after a prolonged absence at age 38?

Suarez is under consideration for his ring return. Lomachenko intends to test his reflexes under real fire prior to chasing premier targets.

“My next step, it will be a fight with a guy, maybe with a guy from the Philippines, Suarez,” Lomachenko said to Fight Hub TV. “It will be my first fight after rest, and after that, we’ll see how I feel.”

Lomachenko has remained inactive since halting George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. He has not stepped inside the ropes at 130 pounds since 2017, introducing another variable after more than two years on the shelf.

Sharing the ring with Suarez guarantees rounds against an established contender, though any verdict requires scrutiny. Suarez is also 38 years old. Outpointing him offers limited insight into how Lomachenko handles younger, sharper champions across a full championship distance.

Lomachenko built his legendary status on dazzling footwork, spatial control, and split-second precision. He famously pivoted into blind spots, unloading clean punches before opponents could reset. If his reflexes have eroded or his legs can no longer maintain that tempo, fighters who once swung at air might suddenly connect with ease.

Taking on someone like O’Shaquie Foster represents a far steeper hazard. Foster’s slick mobility and sharp counterpunches would force Lomachenko to spend considerable energy establishing range. Looking sharp against Suarez is positive, yet it does not guarantee Lomachenko can cut the ring on Foster or match his pace over 36 minutes.

Lomachenko clearly recognizes the reality in front of him. When questioned regarding matchups with Gervonta Davis or Naoya Inoue, he urged the interviewer to pump the brakes.

“I want to do slowly, slowly, slowly,” Lomachenko noted. “I need to check my body in the real fight.”

Hitting 130 pounds again presents its own physical hurdle. After spending several years up at lightweight, dropping back to a weight class he exited almost ten years ago takes a heavier toll on an older fighter. How comfortably he makes the scale could tell us just as much as his performance under the lights.

The veteran southpaw admitted the ticking clock motivated him to lace up the gloves again instead of letting time slip away.

“One day I wake up and thinking, hey, now I’m 38 years old, and we need to try one more time,” Lomachenko said. “If it will be after two more or three years, then I will be 40, 41 years old. It will be too late.”

His team is scheduled to sit down with Bob Arum to map out the business side of the ring return. Neither a date nor an opponent has been made official.

Suarez offers a workable starting point, though Lomachenko must deliver more than just a victory to prove he still belongs among the division elite. Hand speed, foot mobility, and gas tank over the championship stretch will tell the real story.