Former multiple boxing world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko has turned down the opportunity to leave his native Ukraine and fight George Kambosos Jr. for the world championship. Instead, the 34-year-old wants to stay in Odessa to defend the city from an approaching Russian attack.
If everything had gone as planned, Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. would have met in the ring within a few weeks and fought for the WBA, IBF and WBO world championship belts.
After Kambosos’ surprising win over Teófimo López in November last year and his rise to the top of the lightweight division, the boxing world was already waiting for this fight. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has now finally burst the fight.
After the war began, Lomachenko traveled to his native Odessa to defend the city and country against Russian attack. According to the Daily Mail, his team was working to get the superstar out of the country so he could begin his preparations to face the Australian. But Lomachenko rejected the proposal and refused to leave Ukraine.
Kambosos reacted with understanding to the withdrawal of his big opponent and wrote on Twitter: “Vasiliy Lomachenko, I respect your decision and I can totally understand it. I pray for you and your country. Please take care of yourself!”
Instead of Lomachenko, the champion will now face the American Devin Haney. He will “wipe the floor” with him, wrote Kambosos. After that, the fight between two real champions will increase, the world champion promised towards “Loma”.
Lomachenko is one of many Ukrainian sports stars who are currently in their homeland to defend the country against the Russian army. Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk is also one of the athletes who put their careers aside to fight for Ukraine’s freedom. Usyk is currently in Kiev, as are the two Klitschko brothers.