Top Rank President: Lomachenko must decide if he wants to return to his profession or wants to stay in Ukraine

promotion company president Top Rank Todd Duboeuf spoke about the future Vasily Lomachenko. The manager noted that the Ukrainian will have to decide whether he wants to return to boxing or stay in Ukraine.

“We only spoke to his adviser, who told us that Lomachenko is training a little in Ukraine. It’s really a private matter, so there’s nothing we can do about it,” Duboeuf said.

“We offered him a fight with Kambosos, and he said: ‘I’m passing, I want to stay and support my country.’ We treated it with respect, and in the end, Haney appeared.

“Lomachenko will have to figure out for himself, with his family and country, where he wants to be when the winner is decided. [поединка Камбосос — Хэйни]. Does he want to return to his profession or does he want to stay in Ukraine with other civilians, protecting them and helping them as much as possible.”

“I think that the sensitivity of this topic makes it personal – it does not concern me, or you, or what we believe in. It’s about what Vasily believes and when he can say: ‘I’ve come to terms with this decision’. As we know, it is for him to enter the ring, not for us.”

“Obviously we want him to be mentally and physically in the best shape possible, so I think he needs to come to terms with the decision he is making. He must do it. We can only give an opportunity.”

This year, Lomachenko and undisputed world lightweight champion George Kambosos were close to agreeing a bout, but Vassily pulled out of the bout and remained in Ukraine amid a full-scale Russian invasion that is now in its 99th day.

On June 5, Kambosos will fight Devin Haney, the WBC lightweight champion. The contract for the fight spelled out the option of a rematch in the event of the defeat of the Australian.

See also: “I’m next.” Lomachenko on Kambosos vs Haney

Last year, Lomachenko had two fights – the Ukrainian defeated Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey.