Lomachenko re-signs with Top Rank for 2027 return

Vasiliy Lomachenko is officially coming out of retirement.

The former three-division world champion has signed a multi-year co-promotional agreement with Top Rank.

The deal will work alongside his newly formed Loma Power Promotions for his comeback.

Lomachenko, 38, will drop down to junior lightweight — a weight class he has not fought in since 2017.

His ring return is slated for early 2027, a Top Rank press release announced Thursday.

Lomachenko last fought in May of 2024, stopping George Kambosos Jr. in eleven rounds to claim the vacant IBF lightweight title.

He announced his retirement in June of 2025.

Now he plans to return because of one bucket list accomplishment he has yet to attain.

“He’s accomplished so much, but he’s determined to become undisputed,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.

“Vasiliy is one of the most gifted fighters I’ve ever promoted, and I’m delighted he’s returning to the ring.”

Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, insisted he never imagined himself returning to boxing.

But a change of heart has brought him back.

“God works in mysterious ways,” Lomachenko said.

“I thought I would never step back into the ring again as a boxer. But our Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me. I’m happy to be living this boxing life once again. I’m grateful to everyone who is once again part of this journey.”

Lomachenko has been promoted by Top Rank since his professional debut in 2013.

He won his first world title in just his third pro bout, defeating Gary Russell Jr. by majority decision to lift the vacant WBO featherweight title.

He subsequently claimed the WBO junior lightweight title by fifth-round knockout against Roman Martinez in 2016.

He then claimed the WBA 135-pound title with a tenth-round stoppage of Jorge Linares in 2018.

Lomachenko came within one title of being undisputed at lightweight.

He defeated Jose Pedraza and Luke Campbell to annex the WBO and WBC titles respectively.

But he lost his three titles in 2020 by unanimous decision against Teofimo Lopez.

Lomachenko fought for the undisputed lightweight championship in 2023.

He lost a unanimous decision to Devin Haney — a fight Lomachenko insists he won.

His professional record stands at 18 wins, 3 losses, with 12 knockouts.

Now he is returning at super featherweight, chasing undisputed glory at 130 pounds.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum spoke to Fight Freaks Unite and confirmed details of the comeback.

“Loma is gonna fight Suarez. That’s pretty well done (for) February,” Arum said.

The opponent is WBO mandatory challenger Charly Suarez, who holds a record of 19 wins, 0 losses, with 11 knockouts.

The fight is reportedly being lined up for February 13, potentially in Las Vegas.

“We’re gonna have a long-term deal,” Arum said.

“Whoever wins that fight (between Lomachenko and Suarez) would fight Foster sometime in the spring or summer of next year.”

O’Shaquie Foster is the current WBC junior lightweight champion.

“And whoever wins that fight between Loma and Foster would then fight the guy who has the other title,” Arum added.

The WBA champion at 130 pounds is Anthony Cacace.

Cacace is due to defend his title against Nick Ball later this year.

The IBF champion at junior lightweight is currently Eduardo Nunez.

The path to undisputed runs through all four champions.

Lomachenko has won world titles at featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight.

Despite losing three fights, his ability to go through the weights, even as a smaller southpaw, highlighted his technical brilliance.

He is returning to the weight class where he once knocked out Roman Martinez in 2016.

That was the last time he fought at 130 pounds.

Top Rank has not announced a specific opponent or venue for the comeback bout beyond Arum’s comments.

Lomachenko will be nearly two years removed from his last professional fight when he steps back through the ropes in early 2027.

His last fight was against George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024.

A rumored fight against Gervonta Davis fell through before Lomachenko announced his retirement.

Now he is back with Top Rank, back at 130 pounds, and chasing what he could not achieve at lightweight.

“He’s accomplished so much, but he’s determined to become undisputed,” Arum repeated.

The junior lightweight division currently has four recognized world champions.

WBA champion: Anthony Cacace.

WBC champion: O’Shaquie Foster.

IBF champion: Eduardo Nunez.

WBO champion: Vacant, with Charly Suarez as the mandatory challenger.

A win over Suarez would put Lomachenko in position to fight Foster for the WBC title.

A win over Foster would then set up a unification bout with the winner of Cacace versus Ball.

The IBF title remains a separate path.

Lomachenko’s co-promotional deal with Top Rank and Loma Power Promotions gives him more control over his career.

Loma Power Promotions is his newly formed promotional company.

The multi-year agreement covers his return and any subsequent fights.

Lomachenko first turned professional in 2013 after a storied amateur career.

He won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

His amateur record was 396 wins, 1 loss.

He won world amateur championships in 2009 and 2011.

He turned pro at 25 years old, older than most prospects.

Top Rank signed him immediately and guided his entire professional career.

His third pro fight was for a world title — a feat rarely attempted.

He defeated Gary Russell Jr. by majority decision to win the WBO featherweight title.

That made him a world champion in just his third professional bout.

He moved up to junior lightweight in 2016 and knocked out Roman Martinez in five rounds.

He unified titles at lightweight in 2019 and 2020.

His loss to Teofimo Lopez in 2020 cost him all three lightweight belts.

He returned to win the IBF lightweight title against George Kambosos Jr. in 2024.

That was his last fight before retirement.

Now he is returning at 38 years old, dropping down a weight class, and chasing the one achievement that eluded him.

Undisputed champion.

Bob Arum confirmed the long-term nature of the deal.

“We’re gonna have a long-term deal,” Arum said.

The February 13 date is not yet officially confirmed by Top Rank.

The location is reportedly Las Vegas, but no venue has been announced.

Charly Suarez is undefeated at 19-0 with 11 knockouts.

Suarez is a Filipino southpaw who has fought mostly in Asia.

He has not faced anyone near Lomachenko’s level of competition.

But he is the WBO mandatory challenger and the opponent Arum named.

Lomachenko’s return to junior lightweight means he will be the smaller man against some opponents.

At lightweight, he was often giving up size and reach.

At junior lightweight, he will be more naturally sized.

His speed, footwork and angles have always been his greatest weapons.

Those skills do not typically diminish with age as much as raw power does.

Lomachenko’s decision to return was driven by his faith, he said.

“God works in mysterious ways,” he said.

“I thought I would never step back into the ring again as a boxer. But our Lord Jesus Christ had other plans for me.”

He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in his return.

“I’m happy to be living this boxing life once again. I’m grateful to everyone who is once again part of this journey,” Lomachenko said.

The boxing world has reacted with a mix of excitement and skepticism.

Some question whether a 38-year-old can compete at the highest level after a two-year layoff.

Others point to his technical genius and believe he can still beat top competition.

The division at 130 pounds is deep with talent.

O’Shaquie Foster is a skilled boxer with a 22-3 record.

Anthony Cacace is a hard-hitting champion from Northern Ireland.

Eduardo Nunez is a young Mexican fighter with 27 wins and 1 loss.

Charly Suarez is the immediate obstacle.

If Lomachenko gets past Suarez, the Foster fight would be next.

A win over Foster would put him one fight away from undisputed.

The timeline Arum laid out suggests a spring or summer fight against Foster.

Then a fall unification bout against the winner of Cacace-Ball.

That would mean three fights in 2027 if everything goes according to plan.

Lomachenko has not fought more than once in a calendar year since 2021.

The physical demands of three fights in one year at age 38 are significant.

But Lomachenko has always been an elite athlete with a disciplined training regimen.

He trains in Oxnard, California, and in Ukraine.

His father, Anatoly Lomachenko, has been his lifelong coach.

Anatoly Lomachenko is a renowned trainer who developed Vasiliy from childhood.

The father-son duo has been together for every fight.

That continuity is expected to continue for the comeback.

Top Rank has a long history of promoting older fighters successfully.