Vasiliy Lomachenko, the Ukrainian boxing icon, has called it quits on his professional career. The 37-year-old fighter, promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank, decided to hang up his gloves after an exceptional run in the sport.
Lomachenko's journey in boxing started with a bang. He's widely considered one of the best amateur boxers ever. He snagged Olympic gold medals in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, cementing his status as a top-tier talent.
In 2013, Lomachenko jumped into the pro ranks. He didn't waste time making his mark. In just his third pro fight, he grabbed the WBO world featherweight title by beating Gary Russell Jr. From there, he climbed the ranks, becoming a champion in the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions too.
Throughout his career, Lomachenko racked up wins against tough opponents. He beat Guillermo Rigondeaux, Jorge Linares, and George Kambosos Jr. His last victory came against Kambosos Jr just over a year ago. Lomachenko wrapped up his pro career with an impressive 18-3 record.
Bob Arum, Lomachenko's promoter, shared the news with Fight Hype. He said:
"One of my great fighters Vasiliy Lomachenko retired today, so the next successor for him is Keyshawn [Davis], so I'm gonna look forward to the next couple of years."
Arum's mention of Keyshawn Davis as Lomachenko's successor is interesting. Davis, a 26-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia, recently made waves in the boxing world. In February, he won the WBO lightweight champion title with an impressive stoppage victory over Denys Berinchyk in New York.
But Davis hit a snag recently. He was set to defend his title against Edwin De Los Santos on June 7. The fight got cancelled when Davis missed weight by almost five pounds. As a result, he lost his WBO lightweight belt. Arum called the situation "very disappointing." Now, Davis plans to move up to super-lightweight.
As Lomachenko steps away from the ring, he leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to match. His quick rise to world champion status and his multiple titles across weight classes set him apart in the boxing world. While fans will miss seeing him in action, they'll always remember the skills and determination that made him a true boxing icon.
