Vasiliy Lomachenko has officially ruled out any return to the ring closing speculation that he might face Manny Pacquiao.
The Ukrainian great retired in June 2025, a year after outclassing George Kambosos Jr. to reclaim the lightweight world title for a second time. Despite his dazzling performance in Australia, Lomachenko surprised fans with an Instagram post announcing he was walking away from the sport. “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 victory,” he wrote.
A two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-division world champion, Lomachenko’s name recently resurfaced amid rumors of an exhibition against Pacquiao. However, speaking at a WBO convention in Colombia, where his career was honored, the 37-year-old made clear his position. “It was not difficult because I lost my motivation,” he said of his retirement. When asked about a possible return, he added, “It makes no sense talking about [potential fights] because I’m finished with boxing.”
Lomachenko retired with a professional record of 18 wins and 3 losses, having competed in 17 world title fights across featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight. And while Pacquiao has suggested an exhibition could still be on the table, Lomachenko appears content to keep his gloves hung up.
Image Credit: Ready To Fight