Egis Klimas on Vasiliy Lomachenko's back exam: 'If he's healthy, he'll fight again'
Dec 27, 2024 • 7:34 PM ET
An MRI exam in the new year will help determine the boxing future of IBF lightweight and three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, his manager told BoxingScene Friday.
Lomachenko, 18-3 (12 KOs), will undergo a back examination in his native Ukraine, said the fighter’s manager Egis Klimas. The results will provide insight into whether the two-time Olympic gold medalist can resume fighting in 2025 as big matches in his loaded division loom.
Klimas said he has informed the IBF of the situation. Klimas told BoxingScene that Lomachenko’s injury was suffered in training.
Lomachenko most recently fought May 12 in Australia, defeating former lightweight champion George Kambosos Jnr by 11th-round TKO. One year earlier, he lost narrowly on the scorecards to former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney.
Now 36, Lomachenko balked at fighting unbeaten WBA lightweight champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis in a unification this year as "Tank" proceeded to take a March 1 title defense versus super-featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jnr in 2025.
Officials at Lomachenko’s promotional company, Top Rank, have said previously that they are unsure if Lomachenko will fight again.
During the wait, Top Rank moved unbeaten third-ranked IBF contender Keyshawn Davis toward a February 14 title shot at new WBO champion Denys Berinchyk. Davis is the top-ranked WBO contender.
Meanwhile, the IBF’s No. 1 contender spot is vacant, followed by second-ranked Zaur Abdullaev and fourth-ranked Raymond Muratalla, a Top Rank product.
A boxing official familiar with the situation said Abdullaev will fight Muratalla for the IBF belt should Lomachenko opt to retire.
If Lomachenko is clear to fight again following the exam, he will decide whether to fight one of the IBF contenders or pursue the Davis fight.
“If he’s healthy, he’ll fight again,” Klimas said.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
