Vasyl Lomachenko Returns to Professional Boxing at 130 Pounds
Vasyl Lomachenko announced his return to professional boxing after a career pause that followed his win over George Kambosos in May 2024. The three-division world champion plans to compete at 130 pounds and pursue the undisputed super-lightweight title, with O'Shaquie Foster identified as a potential opponent.
Key points
- Lomachenko plans to return at 130 pounds, a division he called his natural weight class.
- He aims to compete for the undisputed super-lightweight championship.
- He wants to meet the winner of O'Shaquie Foster vs Emanuel Navarre.
- Foster defeated Navarre by unanimous decision and unified the WBC, IBF and WBO titles.
- Lomachenko stopped George Kambosos in the 11th round in Australia in May 2024.
- The Kambosos victory earned Lomachenko the IBF lightweight title and the IBO belt.
- His professional record stands at 21 fights, 18 wins, 12 knockouts and three losses.
Why it matters
Lomachenko's comeback could revive his pursuit of the undisputed super-lightweight championship. Foster, who unified the WBC, IBF and WBO belts, has emerged as one of the Ukrainian boxer's leading potential opponents. Lomachenko plans to continue until at least 40 or 41, although he has not yet established what his first months of training will produce.
What happened
Former three-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko announced that he is returning to professional boxing and intends to compete at 130 pounds, which he described as his natural division. He wants to pursue the super-lightweight championships and said he hopes to face O'Shaquie Foster, who defeated Emanuel Navarre by unanimous decision and unified the WBC, IBF and WBO titles.
Lomachenko's last fight before the pause was his May 2024 victory over George Kambosos in Australia. He stopped Kambosos in the 11th round, won the IBF lightweight title and took Kambosos's IBO belt. He later said that fatigue and the mismatch of the lightweight division prompted the break. In July 2026, it was reported that he had arrived in the United States to prepare for a fight and was living and training in Puerto Rico.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on Lomachenko's personal decision to return, his motivation and his plans to compete at 130 pounds. It also highlights his arrival in the United States, his training base in Puerto Rico and the possibility of facing Foster, while earlier reports named Charlie Suarez and Antoni Cachao as potential opponents.
Background
Lomachenko has competed in 21 professional fights, winning 18 by decision or knockout, with 12 knockouts, and losing three. His career pause lasted after his May 2024 win over Kambosos in Australia. He attributed the break to fatigue from boxing and to 135 pounds not being his natural weight class. Earlier reports also said his first bout after the comeback could be against a Russian fighter.