June 05, (THEWILL) – Vasiliy Lomachenko has confirmed his retirement from professional boxing at age 37, ending a remarkable career that saw him capture world titles across three weight divisions and claim two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
The Ukrainian southpaw made the announcement through an Instagram video on Thursday, reflecting on both victories and defeats throughout his distinguished tenure in the sport.
His professional record stands at 18-3, with notable losses coming against Orlando Salido, Teofimo Lopez, and Devin Haney.
The former champion’s final bout took place in May 2024 when he stopped Australia’s George Kambosos Jr in the 11th round, adding another impressive victory to his collection.
Lomachenko’s professional achievements include winning the WBO featherweight title in just his third fight against Gary Russell Jr in June 2014, followed by the WBO junior lightweight crown in 2016 against Roman Martinez.
His most celebrated triumph came in 2018 when he defeated Jorge Linares at Madison Square Garden to claim The Ring and WBA lightweight belts.
Lomachenko’s fighting style earned him widespread acclaim and memorable nicknames including “The Matrix” and “Hi-Tech” due to his exceptional footwork and elusive defensive abilities.
Between November 2016 and December 2017, he forced four consecutive opponents to quit, including Nicholas Walters, Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga, and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
His amateur record of 396-1 remains one of the most impressive in boxing history, demonstrating his dominance before turning professional.
The retired champion’s unique skillset can be traced back to his unconventional training under his father Anatoly, a boxing coach who began working with his son from the age four.
At nine years old, Lomachenko temporarily abandoned boxing for four years of traditional Ukrainian dancing, developing the balance and footwork that would later define his professional style.
His father also incorporated diverse training methods, including underwater breath-holding exercises and complex mental arithmetic challenges designed to sharpen cognitive abilities.
“I’m grateful for every victory and defeat inside the ring and outside the ring,” Lomachenko stated in his retirement announcement.
He added, “I’m thankful that my career has ended with clarity about the direction a person must take to achieve true victory, not just in the ring.”
His departure marks the end of an era for a fighter widely regarded among the sport’s most technically gifted performers, leaving behind a legacy built on innovation, precision, and an amateur foundation that few professionals have ever matched.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
