Lomachenko left boxing for Ukraine war effort – now he’s back for the titles

Vasiliy Lomachenko made an extraordinary choice.

Earlier this year he was on the cusp of agreeing a major lightweight unification with George Kambosos. It was the contest he’d longed for since losing his title belts in a shock defeat against Teofimo Lopez.

But when Russia invaded Ukraine, he walked away from boxing to return to his homeland and support the war effort as best he could.

<div class="sdc-site-video sdc-article-widget callfn" data-account-id="6057984924001" data-amp-iframe-embed="" data-asset-id="0ed8b49d-50d5-4390-8919-7390bec3fc83" data-asset-path="" data-asset-version="" data-autoplay="" data-auth-config=" Leclerc crashes Ferrari

Transfer Centre LIVE! Rodgers: No indication Tielemans needs to leave

Pep waiting on Haaland fitness ” data-caption=”Sit back and watch Vasiliy Lomachenko’s best knockouts in the lead up to his clash with Jamaine Ortiz” data-clip-type=”” data-component-name=”sdc-site-video” data-competition=”” data-copy-url-text=”URL copied to clipboard” data-fn=”sdc-site-video” data-id=”id_0ed8b49d-50d5-4390-8919-7390bec3fc83″ data-is-live-stream=”false” data-lite=”true” data-options=”” data-originator-id=”49″ data-originator-handle=”brightcove-sport-gb” data-package-name=”” data-provider=”brightcove” data-player-id=”DESF5xFjJ” data-sensitive=”false” data-sdc-id=”5943386″ data-sdc-video-id=”0ed8b49d-50d5-4390-8919-7390bec3fc83″ data-sport-category=”” data-state=”loading” data-video-ad-unit=”videoplayer” data-video-blacklisted-originator-ids=”” data-video-id=”ref:0ed8b49d-50d5-4390-8919-7390bec3fc83″ data-video-type=”” data-auto-pause-on-not-visible=”” tabindex=”-1″>

It was a brave decision, selfless too, but Lomachenko didn’t hesitate.

“The decision was made very fast and it was supported by all my family because it cannot be any other way. At times like this, you have to defend your home, you have to defend your country,” Lomachenko told Sky Sports.