Vasiliy Lomachenko sets himself deadline for retirement decision in the new year | Boxing News

Vasiliy Lomachenko is considering whether to retire from the sport, and has set himself a deadline to make that decision.

Lomachenko, a brilliant two-weight Olympic gold medallist and three-weight professional world champion, has given himself until after January 1 2025 to come to a conclusion on whether to fight on.

The Ukrainian has not boxed since recapturing the IBF lightweight world title when he stopped George Kambosos in May.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who represents Lomachenko, met with the fighter and his team after that last contest.

“They told me that he was going back to Ukraine because he had to be with his kids who are in school and there was bombing outside and he didn’t feel he was in the position at that point to talk about a future fight,” Arum told Sky Sports.

“But he promised that after the first of the year he would make a decision. So what that decision [will be?] I think it’s true that he didn’t know at that point what decision he would make.”

Arum won’t press Lomachenko to make that final call until after January 1.

“I don’t want to disturb him, I don’t want to rush him. He’s been terrific,” Arum said.

But he did add: “I remember just outside the restaurant taking a photograph with him and his father and it was almost like goodbye photograph. Maybe that was just the case.”