Lomachenko Retired After Losing Motivation

Vasiliy Lomachenko has opened up on his decision to retire at the age of 37.

Loma walked away in June after stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024 to secure the vacant IBF Lightweight Title. That took the Ukrainian’s pro record to 18-3-0 (12 KOs), having won titles at 126, 130 and 135. While Loma is considered a future Hall of Famer, he failed to achieve undisputed which he had been chasing.

Lomachenko was given the chance when he faced Devin Haney for the Undisputed Lightweight Title. However, he came up short, losing a unanimous decision. Despite this, many felt he had done enough to win the fight. The rematch never happened, as Haney moved up to 140. Loma admitted that he boxed Kambosos after his father and trainer, Anatoly, encouraged him to do so. But he no longer has the motivation to continue.

“Before the fight with Kambosos, I wanted to be finished with boxing… My goal was [to become] undisputed world champion, and I understand that after Haney, I don’t have a chance anymore. It was my motivation, I lost motivation. I can’t be the undisputed world champion. Inside me, I am finished with boxing,” Lomachenko said

His Legacy

Lomachenko is the fastest male boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions, achieving the feat in just 12 fights when he defeated Jorge Linares in 2018 for the WBA Lightweight title. He also captured his first world title—the WBO Featherweight belt—in only his third professional fight against Gary Allen Russell Jr.

Loma was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) in 2017. He also won consecutive Olympic Gold Medals in two different weight classes: Featherweight at the 2008 Beijing Games and Lightweight at the 2012 London Games. He then secured gold medals at the World Championships in both 2009 and 2011, showing he had an elite career.