Vasily Lomachenko has competed in the lightweight category for the last eight fights since 2018. The Ukrainian has had significant success in the division, unifying three lightweight titles before losing them. Teofimo Lopez Jr. in 2020. Prior to that, the Ukrainian won featherweight and super featherweight titles, and mostly faced bigger opponents in lightweight.
35-year-old Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) will fight with the absolute champion Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) May 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Haney has spoken more than once about a potential move up to super lightweight as he finds it increasingly difficult to get down to 61kg.
When Lomachenko was asked if he would consider switching to 63 kg for a chance to avenge the loss to Lopez, the two-time Olympic champion immediately refused.
“Everyone knows that lightweight is not my weight class. And I won't be able to perform at 63 kg. After that, there will be questions about Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk? Sorry," Lomachenko said in an interview with BoxingScene.com.
Lomachenko was also asked if he would be willing to return to featherweight to possibly take on fellow Top Rank stablemate Naoya Inoue, a former undisputed bantamweight champion who is yet to make his bantamweight debut.
“Perhaps I would have fought Inoue. Although I have already forgotten how to lose weight,” Lomachenko said. - I need to try to do 126. But of course, it's always interesting to discuss possible fights with top fighters in weight categories that are nearby... I saw his fights. He has a hit. He is a top fighter."
