Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of the most accomplished fighters in boxing, acknowledges that his career is nearing its conclusion as he prepares for a world title fight against George Kambosos on May 12. This match for the vacant IBF lightweight title marks Lomachenko's return to the ring since his defeat to Devin Haney last year. Despite his historical prowess, Lomachenko, now 36, senses that the zenith of his career may be behind him.
Watch Top Rank’s Real Time Episode 1: Watch
Entering professional boxing later in life after securing a second Olympic gold, Lomachenko rapidly ascended, setting records by clinching world titles in three weight divisions within just 18 fights. Reflecting on a decade-long professional journey, he concedes that his time left in the sport is limited.
"If you are talking about ages in boxing... I'm an old man. My career is almost done, of course. Maybe one, two, or three years left—that's it. But I still think I have a little bit of power."
Having competed above his natural weight class for six years, Lomachenko has faced increasingly challenging and physically imposing opponents. The toll of recent losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney has exacerbated the physical demands of recovery. He candidly admits the difficulty of recovery post-fight and the uncertainty about his physical condition moving forward, making it hard to pinpoint exactly when he will retire.
"At this stage, every fight is hard. It's hard to recover after fights. I don't know what will happen with my body after this fight and that's why I can't give you an answer to this question [of when I will retire]."
Image Credit: Sky Sports