While statistics provide data, they don`t always capture the full narrative. Vasiliy Lomachenko recently retired from boxing at age 37, concluding a professional career with a record of 18 wins and 3 losses, securing world titles in three weight classes. For future generations of boxing enthusiasts who didn`t witness his extraordinary skills firsthand, examining his record might lead to questions about his status among the greats, especially in an era that often prioritizes an undefeated streak, famously exemplified by Floyd Mayweather`s 50-0 finish.
However, Lomachenko charted a dramatically different course after an exceptional amateur run, highlighted by two Olympic gold medals and an astonishing record of 396 wins against just 1 loss. Unlike many fighters who ease into the professional ranks with carefully selected opponents, Lomachenko immediately sought out significant challenges, embracing adversity as a defining characteristic of his journey.
In only his second professional bout, just months after his debut, Lomachenko faced the tough WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido in March 2014. He aimed to make history by winning a world title faster than anyone before. However, Salido, who missed weight and used physical tactics, secured a controversial split decision victory.
Undeterred, Lomachenko quickly adapted to the professional style. In his very next fight, his third as a pro in June 2014, he defeated the undefeated Gary Russell Jr. by majority decision to claim the vacant WBO featherweight title, becoming one of only two boxers to achieve this feat in just three fights.
His peak dominance was still ahead. After successfully defending his title three times, Lomachenko moved up to junior lightweight. In June 2016, he stopped WBO champion Roman Martinez in five rounds, winning a world title in a second weight class in only his seventh professional fight – the fastest ascent to this achievement at the time. This period marked the rise of “No Mas-Chenko.”
Over his subsequent four fights against accomplished opponents like Nicholas Walters, Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga, and Guillermo Rigondeaux, Lomachenko`s technical brilliance—characterized by exceptional footwork, precision, and athleticism—systematically broke down his rivals, forcing each of them to quit on their stool between rounds. His mastery was particularly evident against fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist Rigondeaux, who could land only 8% of his punches before retiring in the sixth round.
Lomachenko accomplished in just 11 professional fights what takes many fighters an entire career.
But he continued to push boundaries. Despite being a smaller junior lightweight, he moved up again to challenge WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares in May 2018. Despite being knocked down, Lomachenko recovered to stop Linares in the tenth round with a devastating body shot, becoming the fastest boxer ever to win world titles in three weight classes in just 12 fights, shattering the previous record of 20 fights held by Jeff Fenech.
With his status as an elite pound-for-pound fighter solidified, Lomachenko added unification wins against Jose Pedraza and Luke Campbell. However, he ultimately fell short in his bids for undisputed status, losing to Teofimo Lopez and later in a controversial decision to Devin Haney. Both losses came against opponents who were naturally larger and possessed the advantage of youth.
Before his retirement, Lomachenko delivered a dominant performance in May 2024, defeating former undisputed lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. by 11th-round TKO in Kambosos` native Australia. Approaching 37, and with concerns for his homeland in war-torn Ukraine, Lomachenko chose to conclude his boxing career.
Although Vasiliy Lomachenko`s record shows three losses, his willingness to challenge himself from the outset and consistently pursue the toughest fights ensures his place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. For most boxers, 21 fights represents an early stage of career development. In contrast, at the same point, fighters like Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford had achieved significantly less in terms of world titles and major challenges. Even Floyd Mayweather, often cited for his perfect record, had not amassed the same level of championship success as Lomachenko after 21 bouts. Lomachenko`s career is a powerful reminder that true greatness in boxing must be witnessed and appreciated in real-time, not solely judged by numbers on a ledger.