Vasiliy Lomachenko, a renowned three-weight world champion, is currently weighing the future of his boxing career.
The Ukrainian star has not stepped into the ring since his victory over George Kambosos in May, where he reclaimed the IBF lightweight world title.
Now, reports indicate that Lomachenko is giving himself until the start of the new year to decide whether he will continue his illustrious career or retire.
A Setback With Injury
Since his last fight, Lomachenko has been dealing with a back injury sustained during training.
This setback has caused further uncertainty about his future in the sport.
According to his manager, Egis Klimas, Lomachenko will undergo an MRI scan in the new year to assess the extent of the injury and help guide his decision.
The examination will take place in his home country, Ukraine, and the IBF has already been notified about the situation.
Bob Arum’s Approach to Lomachenko’s Decision
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who has worked with Lomachenko throughout his career, has been in communication with the fighter following his win against Kambosos.
However, Arum has expressed that he doesn’t want to rush Lomachenko into making a decision about his future.
Arum shared that Lomachenko needed some time to focus on his family, especially given the difficult situation in Ukraine.
Arum explained, “He went back to Ukraine to be with his kids, who were in school, and with everything going on outside, he didn’t feel it was the right time to discuss future fights.”
Despite the uncertainty, Arum emphasized that Lomachenko promised to make a decision after January 1.
He added, “At the time, he didn’t know what decision he would make, but I don’t want to rush him.
He’s been terrific, and I respect his decision-making process.”
Kambosos’ Respect for Lomachenko
After their fight in Australia, Kambosos had nothing but respect for Lomachenko, praising him as one of the greatest champions in boxing.
Following his 11th-round TKO loss, Kambosos told reporters, “This guy is one of the best of all time.
We gave it our best, but he deserves that belt.
I gave it my all, and I’m still standing.”
As Lomachenko takes his time to evaluate his future, the boxing world awaits his decision on whether he will retire or continue to fight for more titles.