– Mr. Vasyl, should Lomachenko hang up his gloves right now? Is there any point in having another fight as the current world champion?
– Less than six months ago, Lomachenko convincingly defeated former champion George Kambosos and became a two-time world champion in the lightweight division. In my opinion, he has enough physical resources for at least 2-3 high-level fights. However, this does not guarantee that he will find the motivation to step into the ring that many times (or even once).
In the final stages of Lomachenko's career, title fights against star opponents could motivate him further, allowing him to solidify his boxing legacy and earn a substantial financial reward. Fights against current lightweight champions Shakur Stevenson and Denis Berinchik, as far as I understand, do not significantly motivate Lomachenko.
There remains Gervonta Davis – a very risky option for an aging and drained boxer who has passed his peak. Therefore, a seven-figure purse should serve as an incentive to agree to such a fight, which is more necessary for "Tank." Judging by the failed recent negotiations with Davis's team, Vasyl is not currently offered such a purse. However, I assume they might propose it after "Tank's" fight with Lamont Roach (on December 14).
Vasyl Lomachenko
– Can you explain why you refer to Vasyl Lomachenko as Vasiliy?
– He himself rejected his Ukrainian name, under which he competed in amateur boxing and in the early years of his professional career, in favor of the Russian version. This occurred in 2017, which can be traced in how he was introduced by ring announcers starting from the fight with Miguel Marriaga and referred to in Top Rank resources that represent his interests.
– Will Lomachenko be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame where Vitaliy and Volodymyr Klitschko are already members? If so, when?
– Of course. There is no doubt about that. I am not aware of any cases where a pound-for-pound leader and one of the best boxers of his generation has been declined entry into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. This will happen on the first try, three years after his career ends. Lomachenko will become the third or fourth (after Oleksandr Usyk) Ukrainian boxer in this prestigious registry.
– If we summarize Vasyl's career, where did he excel more, in amateur boxing or on the professional ring?
– Well, it is still too early to summarize his professional career, as there remains a possibility (albeit a slim one, in my opinion) that Vasiliy could become an "absolute" champion in the lightweight division, which could influence the overall assessment.
However, if we evaluate Lomachenko's achievements up to this point, they are impressive – both in amateur and professional boxing. Although in amateur boxing, with two gold Olympic medals, two world championship gold medals, and the Vel Barker Trophy, he is closer to the pinnacle.
Lomachenko's sporting achievements in Ukrainian boxing are exceptional. He is the most decorated amateur in history. I would also place him second or third in terms of achievements in the professional ring, where he conquered three weight categories and was once considered the best boxer in the world regardless of weight class. These are colossal achievements, but there is one caveat. His civic stance during the most challenging time for Ukrainian statehood, when the survival and existence of the nation are at stake, diminishes these achievements in the eyes of a significant portion of the boxing community in Ukraine. It is hard to take pride in his sports career under such circumstances.
– Did Lomachenko's decision to stay for a second Olympic cycle (2008-2012) in amateur boxing hinder him from showing better results in professional boxing? Can it be said that this was a strategic mistake by Vasyl and his father?
– Yes, Vasiliy could have turned professional after Beijing 2008 and potentially conquered 4-5 categories instead of 3. He could have become an "absolute" champion (or even in two categories) and earned tens of millions of dollars more. Of course, provided that his health allowed it and injuries did not pose significant obstacles. But then he would not have inscribed his name in history as one of the best amateurs with an astonishing fight record: 396 wins (or perhaps more) against one disputed loss.
I am sure that after his triumphant performance at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Vasiliy and his father-trainer objectively weighed all the pros and cons. In particular, the potential for injury due to the tougher padding in professional boxing gloves, which increases the risk of injuries for Vasiliy’s problematic wrists. Hence, they decided to remain in amateur boxing for another Olympic cycle.
This was not a strategic mistake by the boxer and his father-trainer – they did everything right, achieving remarkable results in professional boxing. The strategic mistake lay elsewhere, as I mentioned earlier. Because of this, his accomplishments are unlikely to ever be fully appreciated in the eyes of Ukrainians.
Vasyl Lomachenko
– Should Lomachenko have changed his father-trainer when transitioning to professional boxing? We remember how in his second professional fight, which was for a championship title, Vasyl lost – largely due to Anatoliy Lomachenko's inexperience as a trainer, who was just starting out in professional boxing.
– I doubt that another trainer could have helped Vasiliy cope with a significantly larger opponent who did not make weight for the category during the official weigh-in, weighed like a welterweight in the fight, and delivered about 40 low blows that the referee did not address. With his father-trainer, Vasiliy showed his maximum in the professional ring. Papachenko built his career, programmed him as a boxer, and logically, Vasiliy will finish it under his guidance.
– What awaits Lomachenko in Ukraine? Will he remain a marginal figure with "orthodox brainwashing," or will common sense prevail, as happened with Oleksandr Usyk at the start of the full-scale war?
– Orthodoxy in Ukraine for me is associated with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, headed by Metropolitan Epiphanius. The aggressive pro-Moscow religious current that Lomachenko supports and promotes on his social media, whose "clergy" betray the positions of Ukrainian soldiers, refuse to conduct funerals for fallen heroes, and their "older brothers" bless weapons for killing Ukrainians and fully support Russia's genocidal war against Ukraine, I do not think should be called Orthodoxy. Therefore, I do not resonate with this term "orthodox brainwashing."
What awaits Lomachenko in Ukraine? I confess, until recently, I was convinced that he did not see his future in Ukraine and would remain living in the USA after his career ends. So this question could have been dismissed. However, according to my information, he plans to sell his house in California and sees his future in Ukraine, making this question relevant.
I do not know how the actions of the occupiers should affect Vasiliy or his relatives, properties, hotels, and businesses for him to change and return to the "Ukrainian field," especially since this has not happened in nearly 3 years of full-scale war. I do not believe he will change unless something extraordinary happens in his life.
Maxim Rozenko, Champion
Responsible Editor – Mykola Dendak