When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and bombed the country from the air, Vassiliy Lomachenko did not hesitate for long. Instead of forcing a big fight for the lightweight crown, the boxing superstar interrupted his career and joined a defense battalion in his homeland near Odessa. Now Lomachenko is back in the ring – and back in position for the Big Fight.
On Sunday night at Madison Square Garden in New York, 34-year-old Lomachenko defeated the previously unbeaten American Jermaine Ortiz. After twelve rounds, all three judges judged in favor of the exceptional talent from the Ukraine. But: It was hard work for Lomachenko, who struggled for a long time with his opponent, who was eight years younger and faster, and only really got going in the second half of the duel. Still, a remarkable comeback given the history.
For months after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Lomachenko put his career on hold to help defend his homeland. He was about to face a very big thing. When Putin gave the order for war, Lomachenko was training in Greece. In June he was scheduled to compete in Australia against the then world champion George Kambosos for all the world titles in the lightweight category (up to 61.2 kg). A big fight, a big payday.
“You don’t think about boxing or the future”
“Hey, stay there!” he wrote to Lomachenko’s manager after the outbreak of war, promoter veteran Bob Arum reported later. “But he flew to Romania because because of the war all the airports in Ukraine were closed at the time and rented a car, which he drove from Romania to Ukraine to come back.”
In his homeland near Odessa, Lomachenko joined a local defense battalion. Photos showed him in uniform and with a rifle on his shoulder. From then on, the superstar’s everyday life was patrol instead of boxing training.
“It was an easy decision for me because it was war in my country, my hometown. I had to stay with my family and my people to defend our country. You don’t think about boxing or the future, you just think about saving your family’s life and your own life,” said Lomachenko before his fight in New York against Ortiz. In the ring, he just wants to give his compatriots a bit of variety and joy during this difficult time.
Lomachenko beckons lightweight title opportunity
That’s what Lomachenko did. What’s more, his points win over Ortiz put him back in exactly the position he was in before the war against Ukraine. A fight for the undisputed lightweight crown beckons him again. Its wearer, the American Devin Haney, watched Lomachenko’s comeback at the ring in New York with interest.
Haney vs. Lomachenko is the fight that needs to be fought, said promoter godfather Arum. The whole thing will not fail because of Lomachenko. “I’m willing to accept any terms Haney puts forward. I need this fight more than he does. His four belts motivate me.”