After many months of speculation, Vasyl Lomachenko has made his final decision: the Ukrainian boxer has officially retired from professional boxing. His IBF lightweight world title will now most likely pass to American Raymond Muratalla, who won the interim championship last month.
Lomachenko had a simply astonishing amateur career, winning 396 out of 397 fights and avenging his only loss twice. Among his many achievements in the amateurs, the most notable are two Olympic gold medals (2008 and 2012), a world silver medal (2007), two world golds (2009 and 2011), a European gold (2008), and a gold at the 2006 Youth World Championships.
As a professional, the Ukrainian master showcased the full extent of his talent to the world, winning world titles in three different weight classes, from featherweight to lightweight. His first title came in just his third pro fight, when he outpointed the talented American Gary Russell Jr at the StubHub Center in Carson.
Among the most memorable victories of his thrilling pro career—aside from the win over Russell—are his total domination of unbeaten Jamaican puncher Nicholas Walters, the sublime KO he delivered to Jorge Linares with a textbook body uppercut, and the clinical dismantling of Australian George Kambosos Jr on the road in his final official bout just over a year ago.
Lomachenko’s three professional defeats all left a sense of frustration among his fans for different reasons. Orlando Salido edged him by a hair after coming in overweight and landing numerous low blows throughout the fight. Against Teofimo Lopez, Loma was hindered by a shoulder injury that required surgery after the match. And the loss to Devin Haney sparked widespread outrage due to a controversial decision in what was, to be fair, an extremely close contest.
Regardless of where one stands on those results, there’s no denying that Vasyl Lomachenko displayed extraordinary talent inside the ropes, dazzling audiences with his performances and rewriting the technical manuals of the sport with his footwork, lightning-fast combinations, and masterful use of the pivot.
It would be fantastic if Loma chose to pass on his knowledge to the next generation as a boxing coach in the future. But those are decisions that only he can make. All of us at Boxe Punch simply want to say thank you for the unforgettable emotions he gave us.