Vasiliy Lomachenko is plotting his return to the boxing ring, targeting an outing against an unbeaten contender before setting his sights on O’Shaquie Foster for a potential undisputed championship showdown in the 130-pound division.
The 38-year-old pound-for-pound maestro has remained inactive since May 2024, when he delivered a masterclass performance to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation lightweight title with an 11th-round technical knockout of Australian challenger George Kambosos Jr. That victory further embellished a storied career that had already seen the Ukrainian virtuoso capture world titles across three distinct weight divisions. Widely celebrated as a modern great of the sport, Lomachenko’s extraordinary achievements in both the professional ranks and an iconic amateur career—where he secured two Olympic gold medals—have already secured his legacy among the finest technicians in boxing history.
However, the realities of competing at the highest tier of the 135-pound lightweight division presented distinct physical challenges for the naturally smaller fighter. During his campaigns in that weight class, Lomachenko occasionally appeared noticeably undersized against elite, rangy operators such as Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney. Both American standouts managed to utilize their physical advantages and reach to hand the Ukrainian master the only defeats of his professional career via unanimous decisions in 2020 and 2023, respectively.
Given these tactical and physical dynamics, it comes as little surprise that the masterful southpaw is now planning a permanent campaign at super-featherweight. This strategic division shift coincides with significant landscape changes at 130 pounds, highlighted by O’Shaquie Foster’s statement-making victory over Emanuel Navarrete. Entering that high-stakes matchup as the reigning World Boxing Council champion, the 33-year-old Foster dramatically expanded his trophy cabinet by adding Navarrete’s IBF and World Boxing Organization titles to his collection. Foster secured the unified status through a brilliant late-fight surge, scoring two crucial knockdowns in the 12th round and earning a comprehensive victory on the judges’ scorecards.
Despite his dominant performance, Foster’s path to complete supremacy in the division still requires navigating mandatory and promotional obligations. To cement his status as the undisputed king of the super-featherweights, Foster must first square off against the winner of the upcoming blockbuster between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball. That highly anticipated bout, contested for the World Boxing Association 130-pound title, is scheduled to take place on December 19, setting the stage for the division’s hierarchy to crystallize as the new year approaches.
Once the dust settles from that championship collision, a high-profile showdown between Foster and Lomachenko begins to make compelling tactical and commercial sense for the sport. Yet, before any championship unification talk can materialize into reality, "The Matrix" must first navigate a tricky comeback assignment. Lomachenko is reportedly set to face fellow 38-year-old contender Charly Suarez in his next professional outing.
Speaking in an interview with Fight Hub TV, Lomachenko identified the talented Filipino fighter as his most likely comeback opponent, with the contest tentatively targeted for later this year. Discussing his immediate future and the cautious approach he is taking following his lengthy layoff, Lomachenko outlined his mindset regarding the next phase of his illustrious career.
“My next step will be a fight with Suarez,” Lomachenko told Fight Hub TV. “It will be my first fight after rest and, after that, we’ll see how I feel.”
While Suarez may not currently occupy the same elite pound-for-pound category as a unified champion like Foster, he represents a formidable and undefeated test for the returning veteran. Suarez is a highly accomplished competitor who proved his mettle at the championship level when he boxed to a competitive and hard-fought eighth-round no contest against Emanuel Navarrete in May 2025. For Lomachenko, measuring himself against a durable and technically sound operator like Suarez will serve as the ultimate litmus test to evaluate his timing, reflexes, and physical conditioning following his extended period away from the ring.
As the boxing world anticipates the December 19 clash between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball, and watches O’Shaquie Foster cement his dominance at the top of the 130-pound division, Vasiliy Lomachenko’s impending return adds another layer of intrigue to an already star-studded weight class. Should the Ukrainian legend successfully bypass the test presented by Charly Suarez later this year, the stage will be set for a historic collision between two of the most skilled fighters of their era, with undisputed super-featherweight glory hanging firmly in the balance.
