Former world champion in three weight categories Vasyl Lomachenko admitted that the defeat from Teofimo Lopez helped him come to God.
"After the defeat from Teofimo Lopez then it seemed that I lost, but actually at that moment I won. At that moment I recognized god. That basically changed my whole life.
My goal now is not to be a champion. My goal is to become a better person, to be an absolute champion in life. Right now I'm very happy because I started to realize a lot of things that I didn't realize before the defeat. And speaking of defeats, I don't lose. I win when I lose," - said Lomachenko.
Recall that in 2020 Lomachenko lost to Lopez by unanimous decision of judges in a fight for the title of absolute world champion in lightweight.
Ukrainian super-heavyweight prospect Vladyslav Sirenko said whether his attitude to his famous compatriot Vasyl Lomachenko has changed in connection with his silence about the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
- Of course it has changed. Because when a person is silent, you do not know how he feels about it, and he, as a media person who is a leader of opinions of many Ukrainians, should be one of the first to express his position on the war in his homeland.
But he has not done that, unfortunately. Therefore, many people may have a lot of unnecessary opinions, including me. I have a negative attitude towards this moment.
- What would you say to him when you met him?
- Nothing. I wouldn't talk to him, I guess. That's all.
- Will Ukrainians forgive Lomachenko for this silence and will they cheer for the boxer in the fight with Kambososos?
- It is very difficult to answer specifically for all Ukrainians, but I think that some will forgive, and some will not. Here is a very abstract question. Personally for me, since he still represents Ukraine, I would like it to have a positive impact for our country. Of course, I would support Lomachenko. However, I don't watch his fights after I stopped understanding his position on the war in Ukraine.
Former world champion in three weight categories Vasyl Lomachenko said that with age potential opponents became less afraid of him.
Australian boxer George Kambosos Jr. has openly expressed doubts about Ukrainian fighter Vasiliy Lomachenko's resolve ahead of their scheduled bout on May 12, 2023, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The fight, which will be broadcasted on ESPN in the U.S., is set for the vacant IBF Lightweight Title. Kambosos highlighted Lomachenko's perceived lack of "dog" or fighting spirit as a pivotal advantage for himself.
Famous Ukrainian boxing veteran Taras Shelestyuk, following Oleksandr Hvozdyk, condemned former world champion in three weight categories compatriot Vasyl Lomachenko, who never made a single coherent statement regarding the criminal invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
"I am doing my best, although I have much less influence than Lomachenko. I don't know why Vasyl doesn't want to support Ukraine more actively. It's hard to understand him.
I think he's been brainwashed. Lomachenko should study the history of Ukraine. It seems to me that since he has been boxing since he was a kid, he hasn't studied. It's easy to manipulate people who have no knowledge of history. The Russian church seems to be doing that to him. I think he needs to study the history of Ukraine, and then he will understand what is happening and why Ukraine is an independent and separate country from Russia," The Sunday Long Read quotes Shelestyuk as saying.
Recall that on May 12 in Perth, Australia, Lomachenko will fight for the vacant IBF lightweight title with George Kambososos.