While turning his back on a unification bout against Gervonta Davis this year, Vasiliy Lomachenko expressed that he will “definitely” fight again and a first-quarter bout in 2025 is the plan, promoter Bob Arum said Monday.
“We’ll see him again. (Lomachenko) made that clear,” Top Rank Chairman Arum said.
The 36-year-old IBF lightweight champion instructed Arum and his manager, Egis Klimas, to halt negotiations with unbeaten World Boxing Association champion Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) due to reasons Arum described as “personal and confidential.”
Arum said Lomachenko’s decision was influenced by war strife in his native Ukraine, which is under fire by Russia.
“He doesn’t want to fight for the rest of the year – it’s legitimate, stuff to do with Ukraine and his family,” Arum said.
While the move leaves Davis to pursue another option for a fall bout – with another three-division champion, WBC lightweight belt-wearer Shakur Stevenson, seen as the strongest candidate – Lomachenko may easily turn back to Davis for his next bout.
“It could be ‘Tank’ as far as Lomachenko is concerned,” Arum said. “He’s made his money and he’s saved his money.”
