Ukrainian boxing icon Vasiliy Lomachenko has confirmed his decision to retire from the sport, stepping away at 37 years old.
He concludes a distinguished career, widely regarded as perhaps the finest amateur boxer ever, who went on to conquer three weight classes as a professional world champion.
In a video shared on social media Thursday, Lomachenko stated, “I am thankful for every win and loss, both inside and outside the ring. As my career concludes, I am grateful for the understanding I have gained about the path one must follow to achieve genuine triumph, beyond just boxing matches.”
This announcement follows just over a year after his final bout, where he secured an 11th-round TKO victory over former undisputed lightweight king George Kambosos Jr. in Perth, Australia. While discussions had occurred regarding a potential major clash with Gervonta `Tank` Davis, the fight never materialized. His manager, Egis Klimas, indicated that Lomachenko lacked motivation, leading him to take a break throughout 2024 to contemplate his next steps. Ultimately, those steps led him away from professional boxing.
Bob Arum, Lomachenko`s long-standing promoter at Top Rank Boxing, commented in a statement, “Promoting Vasiliy Lomachenko`s professional boxing journey has been a privilege for everyone at Top Rank. He was a truly exceptional champion of his era, and his presence in the sport will be greatly missed.”
In his amateur career, Lomachenko compiled an extraordinary record of 396 wins and only 1 loss, earning two Olympic gold medals for Ukraine at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games. He subsequently turned professional, signing with Top Rank Promotions. His pro debut on October 12, 2013, resulted in a fourth-round knockout win over Jose Ramirez. Instead of a gradual progression, Lomachenko was immediately given a world title shot in just his second professional fight against WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido. He narrowly missed becoming the first boxer to win a world title so early, losing a challenging decision. However, he successfully claimed a world championship in his third pro outing on June 21, 2014, defeating Gary Russell Jr. for the vacant WBO title.
Consistently ranked among the sport`s elite pound-for-pound fighters, Lomachenko ascended to lightweight in 2018, where he captured the WBO title by stopping Jorge Linares in the tenth round. He unified lightweight belts with victories over Jose Pedraza, Anthony Crolla, and Luke Campbell before experiencing his second professional defeat against Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Lomachenko rebounded with three consecutive wins before suffering a highly debated decision loss to undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney in 2023. His subsequent and final fight was the win against Kambosos, concluding his distinguished professional career with a record of 18 wins, 3 losses, and 12 knockouts.
Addressing his supporters, Lomachenko stated, “To my family, you have consistently been there for me. You celebrated my successes and shared the burden of my defeats, which ultimately strengthened us.” He added, “I must also express my gratitude to my cherished boxing fans worldwide. Your unwavering passion has been a constant source of support throughout my most memorable contests.”