Vasily Lomachenko exits the arena after winning the WBA, WBO, WBC Lightweight World Title event in London in 2019.
Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
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Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Vasily Lomachenko exits the arena after winning the WBA, WBO, WBC Lightweight World Title event in London in 2019.
Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
A top Ukrainian boxer has turned down a title bout to be with his family and defend his country.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasily Lomachenko last month agreed a deal to fight Australia’s George Kambos Jr. – who holds the sport’s major lightweight title and is widely recognized as the undisputed lightweight champion – In Melbourne on 5 June. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed its plans.
Lomachenko, 34, joined a regional defense battalion in Ukraine last month and flew from Greece to his home outside Odessa to be with his family. Combosos’ promoter Lou Dibella told ESPN on Monday that Lomachenko has opted to stay in Ukraine rather than leave the country for training camp.
Dibella told BoxingScene.com that Lomachenko’s manager, Aegis Klimas, told him the news on Monday.
“We appreciate him. We think the fight he’s fighting is much bigger than boxing,” DiBella said. “And our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and with the people of Ukraine. Whatever they are doing, obviously, is more important than any boxing match.”
Ukraine’s martial law requires men aged 18 to 60 to remain in the country, but ESPN reports that “efforts were being made to allow elite athletes to depart.”
Dibella said he and Lomachenko’s promoter Bob Arum were hoping that Lomachenko might decide to stay in the fight but were not surprised by their decision.
“We had a realization the other day, when [Ukrainian] the government said ok [for Lomachenko to fight]But we didn’t hear any positive feedback [from Lomachenko]We had the impression it was possible,” he told Boxing Scene.
comboso said in a tweet That he respects Lomachenko’s decision and is praying for him and Ukraine. He will now face American boxer Devin Haney.
“Please be safe and once I clear the ground with Devin, we will make this fight between two real champions,” he said.
@VasylLomachenko I respect your decision and I completely understand and I pray for you and your country 🙏 Please stay safe and once I wipe the floor with Devin, let’s give this fight Will make it among the real champions. God bless
— George “Brutal” Kambosos Jr. (@georgekambosos) 21 March 2022
Ukraine is home to many top fighters, as ESPN notes. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitaly Klitschko, is a Hall of Fame boxer who has said he plans to take up arms to defend against the Russian military. And his brother, fellow Hall of Famer and former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, joined Ukraine’s reserve army earlier this month.
This story originally appeared on morning edition Live Blog.
