Vasyl Lomachenko is preparing to step out of retirement next year, reigniting his long-held ambition of capturing an undisputed world championship. As the legendary Ukrainian prepares for a fresh chapter in his storied career, four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. has shared his expert assessment on whether the slick, highly technical veteran can successfully pull off his upcoming comeback at the highest level of the sport.
Throughout his remarkable professional career, Lomachenko has established himself as one of the defining fighters of his generation. Operating under the familiar moniker "Loma," the former pound-for-pound star dominated the featherweight, super-featherweight, and lightweight divisions. Demonstrating immense confidence right from the start of his professional journey, he took an aggressive approach by competing for world honors in just his second professional bout.
While that ambitious early bid fell short—preventing him from becoming the fastest world champion in the history of boxing—Lomachenko quickly rebounded by accelerating through the weight classes and establishing a reputation as a master craftsman inside the squared circle. He eventually settled into the lightweight division, where his technical brilliance and relentless work rate carried him to the absolute summit of the sport.
That lightweight journey ultimately culminated in a high-profile showdown against Devin Haney in 2023, where Lomachenko challenged for the undisputed lightweight championship. In what remains one of the most heavily debated bouts of recent years, the Ukrainian suffered a controversial unanimous decision defeat. Following that heartbreak, Lomachenko took time to regroup before securing one more impressive outing against George Kambosos in May 2024, after which he opted to hang up the gloves for what many believed was a permanent retirement.
Now, however, the landscape has shifted. At 38 years of age, Lomachenko is reportedly set to make his eagerly anticipated return to the ring, targeting a comeback fight at 130 pounds scheduled for February. Beyond his initial warm-up or comeback bout, the Ukrainian southpaw has his sights firmly fixed on securing a shot at unified world champion O’Shaquie Foster, with the ultimate goal of claiming the undisputed super-featherweight title that has thus far eluded him in this weight class.
The news of his return has sent ripples through the boxing community, prompting analysis from legends of the sport who understand what it takes to perform at an elite level deep into one’s career. Speaking recently on the Hall of Game podcast, Roy Jones Jr. weighed in on Lomachenko’s prospects, stating that the Ukrainian possesses the unique stylistic qualities and deep-seated ring intelligence required to pose a serious threat to the formidable WBC, WBO, and IBF titleholder O’Shaquie Foster.
Jones pointed directly to Lomachenko’s extensive amateur pedigree as the foundational element that has sustained him through the physical rigors of top-tier professional boxing. According to Jones, that deep reservoir of experience grants the Ukrainian an innate understanding of angles, timing, and ring generalship that few modern fighters can match.
Expounding on Lomachenko’s historical nickname and fighting style, Jones explained that the fighter’s moniker "Hi-Tech" was earned honestly through his calculated, geometric approach to dismantling opponents. In the view of the Hall of Famer, if Lomachenko can successfully adapt and apply his sophisticated technical framework in a fresh, evolved manner following his time away from the sport, he could present a massive tactical puzzle for Foster.
At the same time, Jones offered a measured word of caution regarding the timing and form of his prospective opponent. O’Shaquie Foster is currently performing at the peak of his athletic powers, making him a particularly dangerous assignment for any fighter stepping out of retirement. Jones remarked that challenging a champion who is firing on all cylinders is undoubtedly a risky endeavor, noting that it represents the most challenging type of environment for a returning veteran. Nevertheless, Jones emphasized that if anyone in the sport possesses the necessary tools, historical knowledge, and visual memory to crack the Foster code, it would be a fighter of Lomachenko’s caliber—someone who has spent a lifetime in the sport and essentially seen every tactical look imaginable five or six times over.
Despite his praise for Lomachenko’s technical mastery, Jones maintained a realistic perspective, stressing that the veteran must implement significant tactical adjustments upon his return if he intends to secure victory against top-tier American opposition. Pointing to the three losses that currently blemish Lomachenko’s professional ledger, Jones noted that those defeats have effectively provided a blueprint for how opponents can exploit certain tendencies in his style. In Jones’ estimation, unless Lomachenko actively evolves and rectifies those structural vulnerabilities, he will struggle to achieve his ultimate championship goals against the elite operators currently holding belts at super-featherweight.
As the promotional machinery continues to spin behind the scenes, Lomachenko’s comeback fight in February is widely expected to pit him against Charly Suarez. A successful outing there would pave the way for the targeted showdown with Foster. However, the super-featherweight landscape remains fluid and fiercely competitive. Foster himself may soon find himself crossing paths with the winner of next month’s high-stakes WBA title bout between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball, adding another layer of intrigue to an already stacked division as boxing fans look forward to the crowning of an undisputed ruler at 130 pounds.
