Vasiliy Lomachenko was in talks to face Gervonta Davis back in June 2024, but removed himself from the negotiations, first deciding on a break until 2025 before announcing full retirement.
At the time, ‘Tank’ Davis was coming off a knockout win over Frank Martin to retain his WBA lightweight world title, and Lomachenko had not long beaten George Kambosos Jr to win the vacant IBF belt.
Despite reports that talks for the unification were progressing well, the Ukrainian pulled out and would eventually announce his retirement from boxing in June 2025.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Lomachenko is set to return, and he has since confirmed it himself, with a final charge to become an undisputed champion on his mind. With that coming at super-featherweight, a more natural class than lightweight for the 38 year old, talks with ‘Tank’ are unlikely to reignite.
Attending the O’Shaquie Foster vs Emanual Navarette fight this past weekend, ‘Loma’ revealed that he ended the fight talks because he did not feel fully comfortable at 135lbs.
On his new X account, Davis responded to the comments.
“I respect it, wish him well.”
When a fan put it to Davis that Lomachenko is a “b***h for running,” he simply said:
“He’s not.”
Despite being considered an active fighter when his potential rival was officially in retirement, Davis has not been much more active. The 31-year-old knockout artist has fought just once in the time since his Martin KO – a majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr – and been embroiled in legal trouble.
A return is anticipated for early next year, with Kambosos in the running to be in the opposite corner. Meanwhile, Lomachenko is targeting Charly Suarez before unified champion Foster.
