Vasiliy Lomachenko has introduced his retirement from boxing on the age of 37.
The Ukrainian sensation leaves behind a storied profession as arguably the best beginner boxer in historical past after which a three-division world champion as soon as he transitioned to the professional ranks.
“I am grateful for each victory and each defeat, each within the ring and in life,” Lomachenko mentioned in a video posted on social media Thursday. “I am grateful that, as my profession involves an finish, I’ve gained readability in regards to the course an individual should take in an effort to obtain true victory, not simply within the ring.”
Lomachenko’s determination comes simply over a 12 months after his final struggle, an Eleventh-round TKO of former undisputed light-weight champion George Kambosos Jr. at RAC Area in Perth, Australia. There have been preliminary talks of a blockbuster struggle with Gervonta “Tank” Davis. The struggle by no means got here to fruition as, in keeping with Lomachenko supervisor Egis Klimas, his fighter “did not have the motivation” and took the remainder of 2024 off to mull his future. Because it seems, his future can be strolling away from the game.
As an beginner, Lomachenko amassed a surprising report of 396-1, successful Olympic gold medals for his native Ukraine on the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He determined to show professional and signed with High Rank Promotions, making his professional debut Oct. 12, 2013, defeating Jose Ramirez by fourth-round knockout. Somewhat than be introduced alongside slowly, Lomachenko was thrust right into a world title alternative in his second struggle, towards WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido. Lomachenko fell brief in his bid to grow to be the primary fighter to win a world champion of their second professional struggle when he dropped a tough-luck determination. Nonetheless, he would make good on his second try at a world title by defeating Gary Russell Jr. in his third professional struggle to seize the vacant WBO championship on June 21, 2014.
“Hello-Tech” made three profitable title defenses earlier than leaping as much as junior light-weight and taking out Roman Martinez for the WBO title in 2016 and occurring a tear by way of the division, defending dominantly towards Nicholas Walters, Jason Sosa and Miguel Marriaga earlier than assembly Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux, a fellow Olympic gold medalist and standout beginner, in a extremely anticipated 2017 showdown. Lomachenko pressured Rigondeaux to retire on the stool between rounds, the fourth consecutive opponent he did that towards, to retain the title.
As a everlasting fixture atop the pound-for-pound rankings, Lomachenko moved up one other weight class and challenged Jorge Linares for the WBO light-weight title in 2018 and received by knockout within the tenth spherical. Lomachenko unified the titles at light-weight with wins over Jose Pedraza, Anthony Crolla and Luke Campbell however suffered his second profession loss when he confronted Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Lomachenko would get again to his successful methods and win three consecutive fights earlier than dropping a extremely controversial determination to undisputed light-weight champion Devin Haney in 2023. He would solely struggle as soon as extra, beating Kambosos and ending his illustrious professional profession with a report of 18-3, 12 KOs.
“To my household, you could have at all times stood by me. You shared in my victories, and also you felt the ache of my losses. These losses solely made us stronger,” Lomachenko mentioned. “I’d be remiss to not thanks, my pricey boxing followers from all over the world. You will have at all times supported me with ardour by way of my most unforgettable fights.”