One of the greatest fighters of the modern era is hanging up his gloves.
Vasiliy Lomachenko announced Thursday morning what had long been rumored — that he would be retiring from professional boxing.
Lomachenko, 37, was one of the most accomplished fighters of his era. He captured back-to-back Olympic gold medals for Ukraine in the Beijing 2008 games and in London in 2012. He ended his amateur career with a 396-1 record.
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In the paid ranks, “Loma” was the fastest to win a world title, doing so in just his third bout. He is also tied Kosei Tanaka in being the quickest to become a three-division world champion, achieving the feat after 12 fights.
Formerly the pound-for-pound No. 1, Lomachenko was renowned for his fast hands, sublime footwork and combination punching. He was a technical master of the sport, bewildering opponents with precision and speed.
He finished his career with an 18-3 record with 12 knockouts.
Lomachenko retired while still holding the IBF lightweight title, which he won in his final bout — an 11th-round TKO win over George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. The IBF championship will officially be vacated in the coming weeks, and interim champ Raymond Muratalla will likely be upgraded to full champion status.
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“I’m grateful for every victory and defeat inside the ring and outside the ring,” Lomachenko said in a video announcing his retirement. “I’m thankful that as my career comes to an end, I’ve gained clarity about the direction a person must take in order to achieve true victory, not just in the ring.
“I thank God for my honest and wonderful and kind parents for their care, love, and warmth I’ve felt throughout my life. My father taught me not only boxing, but how to be a role model for my own children.
“I’ve made many mistakes in life and in the gym, but he was always by my side, correcting me when needed. I have many warm memories.
“To my family, you have always stood by me. You shared in my victories, and you felt the pain of my losses. Those losses only made us stronger.”
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