Camarillo, California – fights are often compared with wars, although this is no longer a metaphor for Vasiliy Lomachenko cares about devoting. Not anymore. Not after watching a real thing.

With regard to the war, a two -time gold medalist of Ukraine, considered for several years to be the largest warrior in the world, has something to do with the average American. “I saw war only on television before,” he said by the translator. “I had no idea: the buildings are destroyed, the cities are encountered from the map, people are killed. I did not take it personally, because it did not happen to me. It happened somewhere else with someone else.”

For some reason, a rocket hit remains with him. This hit a popular holiday destination on the Black Sea coast, maybe half a mile from the place where he stayed, maybe less, but left more than a few buildings in ruins. “I will remember this moment forever because my whole family was there,” said Lomachenko. “I don’t mean only my parents and my children, but my family.”

One can only imagine that excessive emotions such as a blow can move, even in one of them as existing, driven and pre -composed as Lomachenko: fear, rage, panic, confusion. But perhaps, perhaps the most perversely wonderful of all, Lomachenko’s career arch is different in the history of very venerable sport: 396 wins in relation to one defeat (of course Avenged) at amateurs, these gold medals, the title only in his third professional fight and stripes in three divisions. None of them – none of them were left to accident.

Yes, with the 35th birthday approaching in February, the war cost him in the last thing, which he really wanted from boxing – “My Dream”, calls it – the undisputed airy title, all four main belts.

But … So what? The whole family was destroyed in a rocket hit. Besides, he is still hunting. He fights with Jamaine Ortiz, the eighth WBC ranking at Hul theater in Madison Square Garden on Saturday (22:00 ET at ESPN+). It turns out that he is still in the game for the undisputed, not considered the likely result in February.

When the army of Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine, Lomachenko was in an orthodox monastery in Greece. His Lithuanian manager, Egis Klimas – obliged only to protect the interest of his warrior – advised Loma to attract his family and go directly to Camarillo, where he maintains the house and training center. Finally, it was thought that the war would be brutal and brief, the fact was achieved. Loma was a warrior-with a versatile agreement to fight George Cambosos Jr. For all airy belts-not a war hero.

“How could I do it?” Lomachenko said this week. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. I wouldn’t be able to take care of my life if I did it if I ran away. … The enemy attacked our country. Civilians are killed. Women and children die. Every man in my position, every real person would remain to protect his home.”

The last picture that most people saw from the Loma dated in February last year, when he enlisted to the local defense battalion. He is seen in combat fatigue, the rifle flew to his back.

You never know what the warrior really feels, but it wasn’t a fight. So he came neat: “fear and confusion,” he said, the wrong emotions for the great Lomachenko. “I tried to understand what was going on and what would happen.”

What did your day look like? I’m wondering.

“I wasn’t on the first line or on the battlefield,” he said quickly. “I wasn’t in battle.”

Lucky Guy again.

“The first days passed quickly because the situation would change really quickly,” he said. “Our group was supposed to patrol the city after a police hour. The police ration began at 22:00, when we start to combine the streets. To notice a person who should not be outside, or a car that should not be on the way. You must be as vigilant as during the fight.”

So the great Luchenko got a night shift. I wonder how he slept.

“I slept well,” he said. “I was exhausted.”

Especially after they let him train. “Four times a week,” he said. “I had a special schedule in the army [facility]. They gave me time for training because they understood my dream. “

However, despite the whole conversation about his dream, he never questioned his decision to fight Cambosos for all lanes. Instead, the shot went to a very talented youthful star, Devin Haney.

“He doesn’t regret it,” he said. “Nothing. .”

Still, are you wondering what is going through Lomachenko’s mind, watching it?

“I didn’t see it,” he said. “I slept.”

Lomachenko will allow the first fight in June not what he expected: “I thought he would fight Cambosos.” As for the rematch, he is a cage in his opinion of Haney: “He was good. He was wise. He showed why he was better than George Cambosos.”

You were not impressed?

“I’m not easily impressed.”

23 Haneya. The kid traveled 8,000 miles, fought before the hostile crowd of the stadium, returned a few months later and did it again, throwing another closure or damn close to him.

“I wouldn’t call it a heroic feat,” said Lomachenko. “This is something we all do. … He went to another country; he won the fight and returned. This is common practice.”

There is a final game here. Like Ukraine, the dream of this Ukrainian survived. Anyway, to do that he must go through Haney.

Would you give him the same licenses during the negotiations that Cambosos gave? I’m asking.

“You know my answer,” he said. “

What if Haney wants to fight in his hometown in Oakland? Is his adopted family city, Las Vegas?

“I don’t care about this place,” said Lomachenko. “I don’t care. I will go there as long as the belts are threatened.”

What if he says, “I want a rematch clause”?

“Of course. I will be ready for each of his conditions.”

Many warriors talk about it. Actually, most of them. And most of them lie, otherwise sport would not be in a balanced state in which it is located. However, I don’t think Lomachenko is lying. Never about this.

None of the arrows is not popular for him. He comes from a long dismissal, in which the training was far from typical. It’s 11 years older than Haney. It is diminutive for division, while Haney crashes at the seams. What’s more, Lomachenko lost his aura of invincibility over two years ago, when Teofimo Lopez defeated him. But here is a really extraordinary introduction, at least for a warrior:

“Let me explain,,” said Lomachenko. “He is the undisputed champion. He is a party. [Gervonta] Davis or [Ryan] Garcia or Shakur [Stevenson]. “

We really can’t argue with it. In the meantime, however, Jamaine Ortiz, which – although no Haney – is, like most perspectives of Lomachenko opponents, larger and younger and longer.

So why orthosis?

“Because he is youthful and undefeated and technically qualified boxer. I earlier with him” – for the unanimous decision of Lomachenko over Richard Commey – “and it was not straightforward.”

Lomachenko was not among those like me who surprised that Ortiz defeated Jamel Herring.

“I understand what Ortiz can do: good combinations, very quickly. He felt the distance and worked very well on his feet. He understands boxing.”

This is the highest compliment of Lomachenko, which is a warrior. It means understanding the basic elements of distance, time, mental fortitude. It means understanding the fight as a sport, not war.