Vasiliy Lomachenko has committed to a multi-year promotional agreement at 38 years old as the Ukrainian boxing legend prepares to chase the one achievement that has eluded him throughout his illustrious professional career: becoming the undisputed world champion.
The three-division world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist has signed a co-promotional agreement with Top Rank through his newly formed promotional entity, Loma Power Promotions. The partnership sets the stage for his highly anticipated comeback, which is currently scheduled to take place in early 2027.
Lomachenko, who turns 39 in February, faces a timeline that means his new promotional commitment could potentially extend into the year he turns 40 if the partnership runs its full course. The decision marks a dramatic and unexpected U-turn for the fighter, who had previously walked away from the sport believing his competitive days inside the squared circle were entirely behind him.
Lomachenko’s Multi-Year Deal and Return to Top Rank
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who has successfully guided Lomachenko’s career since his professional debut back in 2013, warmly welcomed the new agreement, expressing his enthusiasm for the Ukrainian star’s return to active competition.
"Vasiliy is one of the most gifted fighters I’ve ever promoted, and I’m delighted he’s returning to the ring," said Arum, reflecting on a professional relationship that spans over a decade and includes some of the most technical masterclasses in modern boxing history.
"He’s accomplished so much, but he’s determined to become undisputed. There’s tremendous talent at super featherweight, and we’re looking forward to working with Loma Power Promotions to put on some terrific fights."
Rather than resuming his career in the lightweight division where he spent his most recent campaigns, Lomachenko will return to the super featherweight division. It is a familiar weight class where he previously held the WBO world championship and showcased some of his most untouchable performances.
World Boxing News understands that "The Matrix" is already close to finalizing a contract for a high-stakes February 13 comeback bout against Charly Suarez. Should he successfully navigate that test, a aggressive push for world titles will swiftly follow in customary Loma style.
Lomachenko himself admitted that his decision to lace up the gloves once more caught even him by surprise. Having announced his retirement following his victory in 2024, he was firmly convinced that his fighting days were done.
"God works in mysterious ways. I thought I would never step back into the ring again as a boxer. But our Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me," Lomachenko reflected.
"I’m happy to be living this boxing life once again. I’m grateful to everyone who is once again part of this journey. Special respect and gratitude to Egis [Klimas, manager], who, despite my firm belief that my boxing career was over, never stopped believing that we would step into the ring again. He put in a tremendous amount of work and effort to get us back in the race."
Unfinished Business at 38
Longtime manager Egis Klimas echoed those sentiments, revealing that he never lost faith that his prized fighter would eventually return to finish what he started. Klimas has stood by Lomachenko through every major triumph and setback of his professional journey, and he views this comeback as the final pursuit of a lifelong ambition.
"I’m so happy Vasiliy has decided to return to the ring. He still has unfinished business and a dream that means so much to him: becoming the undisputed champion," Klimas stated.
"I’ve never stopped believing in him, and I’m proud to stand beside him as he gives to that dream everything he has, and I strongly believe his comeback will bring tremendous joy to his team and, most of all, to his fans."
To fully appreciate the scale of Lomachenko’s ambition, one must look back at his phenomenal combat sports resume. Before turning professional, Lomachenko compiled a staggering 396-1 amateur record, a legendary ledger that included back-to-back Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games, alongside a pair of AIBA World Championship gold medals.
His transition to the professional ranks was equally unprecedented. After signing with Top Rank and Bob Arum, Lomachenko captured his first professional world championship in just his third professional bout—tying a then-record for the fewest fights to a world title. By his twelfth professional appearance, he had already captured world championships across three different weight divisions: featherweight, super featherweight, and lightweight.
A defining moment of his professional career arrived in May 2018, when he delivered a masterclass stoppage victory over Jorge Linares, cementing his status as an elite three-division world champion and dazzling fans with his supernatural footwork, angles, and defensive prowess.
However, despite his vast collection of championship belts, the undisputed lightweight championship ultimately slipped through his fingers. Lomachenko suffered a fiercely debated, controversial unanimous decision loss to Devin Haney in May 2023 in Las Vegas—a bout many observers and fighters felt Lomachenko did enough to win.
Refusing to be deterred, he bounced back in May 2024 by delivering a clinical, ninth-round technical knockout over George Kambosos Jr. in Perth, Australia, capturing the IBF lightweight world title. Following that triumph, Lomachenko opted to step away from the sport, announcing his retirement at the age of 37 and leaving fans to wonder if his career had reached its natural conclusion.
The Road to Undisputed
Now, approaching his 39th birthday, Lomachenko is set to test his abilities once again against a new generation of elite fighters. The super featherweight division is currently home to dangerous, established operators such as O’Shaquie Foster, presenting fresh tactical puzzles for a fighter renowned for his analytical approach inside the ring.
At nearly 39 years old, Lomachenko will also have to answer lingering questions regarding how his body and reflexes will respond to a competitive layoff that stretches back to his May 2024 victory over Kambosos. Ring rust, recovery time, and the inevitable effects of aging are formidable opponents for any athlete, let alone one whose style relies so heavily on blinding speed, extraordinary stamina, and spatial awareness.
Throughout his storied career, Lomachenko has never managed to hold all four major sanctioning body world titles simultaneously. While he has conquered multiple weight classes and earned a reputation as one of the most technically proficient fighters in boxing history, the missing piece of his legendary legacy remains the undisputed crown.
Whether his physical capabilities can ultimately match his fierce competitive ambition after more than two years away from active competition will soon be revealed. As Lomachenko prepares to step back under the bright lights in early 2027, the boxing world watches closely to see if the final chapter of his remarkable career will finally deliver the one achievement that has managed to elude him.
