It became known how Vasily crossed the Ukrainian border
Vice-President of the Professional Boxing League of Ukraine Alina Shaternikova told the details of the departure of the former world champion in three weight categories Vasily Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) to training camp ahead of his title fight with the IBO lightweight world champion George Kambosos.
“Vasya Lomachenko has left now, he is training in the USA. Together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, I prepared documents for his departure and permission. We first received permission from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, because Vasily Lomachenko is a soldier in a military unit. That is, [министр обороны Украины] Umerov allowed him to go on a business trip to a training meeting.”
“And then, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, we prepared documents for crossing the border. Vasily left and now he is preparing for a fight with George. God grant that everything works out. I’m also going to this fight, I was invited. I really believe that this year Vasily Lomachenko will become world champion again.”
Lomachenko has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to the UOC-MP on social networks. Serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and public figure Yevgeny Karas, as well as the chief of staff of the Azov regiment Bogdan Krotevich announced the “recruitment” of Lomachenko. Ukrainian boxer Ivan Redkach spoke in support of Vasily.
The boxer has repeatedly published a video interview with Metropolitan Longin of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate on social networks. During his monologues, Longin says that “Ukraine started a war against God, the Church of the Lord and the Ukrainian people.”
In 2023, Lomachenko published a video interview with Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye and Melitopol for the Russian BBC service, who stated that Ukrainians deserved to be bombed by the Russian army. Lomachenko was also spotted at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
Lomachenko previously refused to call Russia an aggressor. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the boxer joined the ranks of the territorial defense of Belgorod-Dnestrovsky, and Shaternikova stated that Vasily was a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The fight between Lomachenko and Kambosos for the vacant IBF lightweight belt has been officially confirmed for May 12, 2024. The event, which also includes two undercard fights, will take place at the RAC Arena in Perth, starting approximately at 5 a.m. Kyiv time.
35-year-old Lomachenko fought his last fight in May 2023, losing to Devin Haney in the fight for the title of absolute world champion. Many experts then considered that the result of the fight was unfair. After the defeat, Vasily decided to take a vacation until the end of the year.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
