Gervonta Davis seeks another opponent as Lomachenko opts to take a break

VASYL Lomachenko won’t battle Gervonta Davis on the finish of the 12 months. While the battle might nonetheless be a chance for 2025, the very fact it has been pushed to this point into the long run, in an period of already inactive top-level fighters, is a blow for the light-weight division’s short-term development.

Some of the language used behind Lomachenko’s choice to finish talks that hardly ever obtained began is each revealing and irritating, relying in your viewpoint. The Ukrainian star’s supervisor, Egis Klimas, instructed boxing reporter Steve Kim that Lomachenko is “not in the mood right now.” Klimas additionally clarified that Lomachenko, 36, will not be retired and can spend time together with his household as an alternative.

After shedding to Devin Haney in May 2023, Lomachenko went by way of a interval of soul looking earlier than returning nearly a 12 months later, on May 12 in Australia, to battle George Kambosos. That night time in Perth, the Eleventh-round stoppage was medical and decisive.

Loma confirmed cameo spots of his finest work, crushing Kambosos and exiting with the IBF title at 135. Promoter Bob Arum was eager on matching him with Davis, which appeared prefer it might occur, earlier than this up to date announcement.

‘Tank’ Davis fought on June 15 in Las Vegas, halting the beforehand unbeaten Frank Martin in spherical eight. While Davis has been responsible of not preventing usually sufficient (regulation enforcement has been in Gervonta’s grill as a lot as any in-ring foe), getting again out this December towards a fighter of Lomachenko’s calibre would’ve been a stable two-fight 12 months.

A battle with Shakur Stevenson could be an excellent higher alternative. Stevenson has been having fun with life as a free agent since splitting with Top Rank. That battle would, due to this fact, be simpler to put collectively – in principle, at the least.