On Thursday, IBF 135-pound Vasiliy Lomachenko announced his retirement from boxing.
The 37-year-old Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs), who last fought in May 2024 when he stopped George Kambosos to capture the IBF strap, tied a boxing record by winning a world title in his third professional bout. He further solidified his legacy by becoming a three-weight world champion in just 12 fights, a feat that commands respect.
“I’m grateful for every victory and every defeat, both in the ring and in life,” Lomachenko said in video on Instagram. “I’m thankful that, as my career comes to an end, I’ve gained clarity about the direction a person must take in order to achieve true victory, not just in the ring.”
Before turning pro, Lomachenko had an incomparable amateur record of 396-1, winning a pair of Olympic and World Championship gold medals for his native Ukraine. In a display of his commitment to his country, he put his career on hold in 2022 and returned to his homeland to join a territorial defense battalion after the Russian invasion.
“It’s been an honor for all of us at Top Rank to promote the pro boxing career of Vasiliy Lomachenko,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said in a press release. “He was a generational champion, and we will all miss his participation in the sport.”
Lomachenko emerged victorious in some significant battles, but also faced defeat in others. The question of his induction into the Hall of Fame remains open, but one thing is certain, Loma had a great run.
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