Boxing
Vasily Lomachenko is retiring due to massive fights
Published
3 months agoon
This freedom radically changes the options available to him. Instead of being narrow by promotional politics, Lomachenko can now pursue the biggest paydays available and the most prestigious lightweight fights.
The update immediately reignited speculation about potential fights with Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson, although Stevenson may now represent a more realistic option given Saudi Arabia’s growing involvement in major boxing events.
Now 38 years elderly, Lomachenko will return as one of boxing’s greatest technicians, but also one of boxing’s most valuable free agents. His decision to skip pre-season fights suggests he believes there is still enough money and leverage to make elite-level fights possible immediately, despite the long layoff.
The lightweight division also looks much different now than it did when Lomachenko left. Players like Shakur Stevenson, William Zepeda, Lamont Roach Jr. and Jadier Herrera have been promoted to main roles, while money from Riyad’s season continues to influence the way the biggest fights are organized.
Mike Coppinger revealed today on X that Lomachenko’s contract with Top Rank expires today, making him a promotional free agent for the first time in years. Lomachenko plans to return in the fall and wants a “massive” fight without any adjustments.
The update immediately reignited speculation about potential fights with Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and other major names in the lightweight division.
Lomachenko hasn’t fought since stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. in the fight for the IBF lightweight title. After the victory, the former three-division champion retired from boxing, citing emotional exhaustion and uncertainty about his future career.
Back problems reportedly interrupted negotiations for a proposed fight with Gervonta Davis before Lomachenko officially retired.
Now, at the age of 38, Lomachenko will return as one of boxing’s greatest technicians and one of the biggest free agents in the sport. His decision to avoid pre-season fights suggests that despite his long layoff, he still considers himself capable of competing at an elite level immediately.
The lightweight division has seen significant changes in his absence, with Shakur Stevenson, William Zepeda, Lamont Roach Jr. and Jadier Herrera have moved into major championship positions, while Davis remains one of the sport’s biggest attractions.
Sources say that Vasily Lomachenko is coming out of retirement and his goal is to return this fall @ringmagazyn. Lomachenko’s contract with Top Rank expires today and he is now a promotional free agent. I was told he only wanted massive fights, no corrections. pic.twitter.com/cDlZJ8WCG0
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 12, 2026
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
You may like
Boxing
Pierce OLeary vs. Mark Chamberlain Live Results: Updates and Highlights
Published
14 hours agoon
August 1, 2026
LIVE COVERAGE
World Boxing News provides live results and updates from Dublin as Pierce O’Leary faces Mark Chamberlain at super lightweight.
Queensberry Promotions returns to the 3Arena with an action-packed card headed by the unbeaten Irish star O’Leary, who meets former British champion Chamberlain in the main event.
The undercard also features Gary Cully, Reece Bellotti, Sean McComb, Steven Cairns, Ben Fail and several unbeaten Irish prospects.
Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain Results
Times are Local – IST
17:46
Gary Cully stopped Lee Reeves in the tenth round to improve to 20-2.
Cully overcame a fifth-round point deduction for repeatedly losing his gumshield before dropping Reeves twice in the final round to force the stoppage.
The victory marked Cully’s 11th knockout win as a professional.
17:01
Sean McComb returned with a comfortable six-round points victory over Miguel Antin.
McComb won every round on the referee’s scorecard, claiming a 60-54 decision to improve his record to 22-2.
16:31
Machlan Arthur improved to 2-0 with his second straight knockout by stopping Ryan Frost in the fourth round.
Arthur dropped Frost twice in the final session before the referee waved the contest off at 1:05 of round four.
Remaining Bouts
• Pierce O’Leary vs Mark Chamberlain – IBO World Super Lightweight Title (12)
• Royston Barney-Smith vs Reece Bellotti – Vacant IBO Inter-Continental Super Featherweight Title (10)
• Gary Cully vs Lee Reeves – Super Lightweight (10)
• Steven Cairns vs Senan Kelly – Super Lightweight (10)
• Ben Fail vs Craig O’Brien – Super Welterweight (10)
• Bobbi Flood vs Tariq Davis – Super Welterweight (6)
• Adam Olaniyan vs Jonathan Claudio Sauco – Heavyweight (4)
• John Joe Carrigan vs Sean Murray – Super Welterweight (4)
• Sami Hamed vs Bela Istvan Orban – Super Welterweight (4)

Preview
Pierce O’Leary tops a major night of boxing in Dublin as the unbeaten Irishman takes on Mark Chamberlain for the IBO World super lightweight title.
O’Leary enters the contest looking to continue his rise through the rankings against the experienced Chamberlain, who aims to return to winning ways after a draw in his third outing since suffering the lone defeat of his professional career.
The chief support sees Royston Barney-Smith meet Reece Bellotti for the vacant IBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title.
Gary Cully also returns in an intriguing domestic clash with fellow unbeaten Irishman Lee Reeves, while Steven Cairns faces Senan Kelly in another all-Irish encounter.
Sean McComb, Ben Fail, Bobbi Flood, Adam Olaniyan, Machlan Arthur, John Joe Carrigan and Sami Hamed also feature on the Queensberry Promotions card.
Updates will be added below as the action unfolds in Dublin, with more live coverage on World Boxing News.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
Boxing
Barry McGuigan: Ryan Garcia Faces a Dangerman in Conor Benn at 147 lbs
Published
15 hours agoon
August 1, 2026
Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has named one half of the main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn as the “dangerman” at 147lbs.
The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with Garcia making a first defence of his WBC world title.
He claimed the belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his surprising points loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025.
Interestingly enough, this defeat came shortly after his year-long doping ban, which he served on account of testing positive for ostarine ahead of his majority decision victory over Devin Haney.
The result of their showdown was then ruled a no-contest, with Garcia subsequently moving up to welterweight after failing to keep below the 140lb limit.
It now seems the 27-year-old is competing at a more natural weight while Benn, who tested positive for clomifene in 2022, has not made 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden that same year.
Speaking with talkSPORTIrish boxing icon McGuigan suggested that this – as well as the 29-year-old’s technical flaws – could prove a major factor against Garcia.
“[Benn’s] got that genetic code from his dad, and he’s got that explosiveness and everything else. But he is predictable – you can see when he’s going to throw.
“You ask yourself: is Garcia just a little bit too sharp for him? A little bit too cute. I think Garcia’s finally found the weight he’s most suitable [for]. I think he’s a dangerman at 147[lbs].
“Maybe Conor Benn has left it a little too late to make 147[lbs] again. I think that could be his Achilles’ heel. I make Garcia a slight favourite but would never write off Conor Benn – he’s got that fighting heart.”
Benn comes off a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis in April, which followed his two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year.
Boxing
Devin Haney Updates Fight Strategy After Keyshawn Davis Withdraws from Title Shot
Published
15 hours agoon
August 1, 2026
Devin Haney’s immediate future has been thrown into uncertainty after Keyshawn Davis pulled out of their mandated contest on Friday.
The pair had been ordered to collide for Haney’s WBO world title, with Davis having been named as the sanctioning body’s mandatory challenger at 147lbs.
Multiple reports then suggested that the 27-year-old was offered $3m by Top Rank, his promoter, only for ‘The Businessman’ to reject what would have been a career-high payday.
Subsequently, their bout went to a purse bit hearing, where Top Rank trumped Teofimo Lopez’s Takeover Promotions with a sum of $8,550,000.
This therefore gave Bob Arum’s outfit the promotional rights and, as per the usual 75/25 split in favour of the defending champion, Davis would have been entitled to a share of $2,137,500.
Since Thursday’s auction, though, Davis has excluded himself from the fight and left Haney without an obvious opponent for his first welterweight title defence.
Taking to social mediaWBO president Gustavo Olivieri explained that his organisation must now provide their champion with a solution.
“The WBO hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid proceedings and, accordingly, will NOT participate in the WBO welterweight mandatory championship contest against Devin Haney.
“In light of the foregoing, the WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will convene to proceed in accordance with the WBO world championship rules and regulations. The applicable ruling will be rendered and published in due course.”
Re: WBO Welterweight Participant Keyshawn Davis
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) hereby confirms receipt of written notice from counsel on behalf of Mr. Keyshawn Davis advising that he will NOT accept the 25% purse split adjudicated pursuant to the official WBO purse bid…
— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) July 31, 2026
At this stage, it remains to be seen whether Haney will be immediately ordered to face a new mandatory challenger or, given the situation, have the opportunity to make a voluntary defence.
Either way, the 27-year-old has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November and is surely eager to return to action.
Pros react after Uros Medic destroys Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Belgrade
UFC Belgrade Results: Uros Medic stops Daniel Rodriguez in 30 seconds (Video)
Pros react after Navajo Stirling TKO's Jan Blachowicz at UFC Belgrade
Trending
-
MMA2 days agoKhabib Nurmagomedov admits Archie Colgan is Usman Nurmagomedov’s ‘toughest’ test
-
MMA2 days agoPFL, Jake Paul’s MVP merge to form new global combat sports company
-
MMA2 days agoUndefeated flyweight calls for a long-term deal with MVP-PFL merger
-
Boxing2 days agoKO Artist Who Fought Canelo Aims for Chris Eubank Jr Showdown in Boxing News
-
MMA2 days agoCanelo Alvarez reveals what will finally make him retire from boxing
-
MMA2 days agoUFC Belgrade weigh-in results: All fighters on point for historic Serbia event
-
MMA2 days agoDaniel Cormier denies Jon Jones’ claims of amicable exchanges off-camera
-
MMA1 day agoDakota Ditcheva admits she’s still fighting fear following serious hand injury



