This weekend, Devin Haney and George Kambosos Jr. will share the ring and one man will emerge as the undisputed lightweight champion. While it is sure to be action-packed fight, it was not always meant to happen.
Months ago, Kambosos Jr. and company were interested in fighting former lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. However, Lomachenko passed on the fight to stay in Ukraine and helped defend his home country. As his home nation battles a Russian invasion over in Europe, Lomachenko is reportedly back to training.
“We have only spoken to his advisor who has told us that he has been training in Ukraine quite a bit. This is a real personal thing so there is nothing we can do,” Top Rank President Todd DuBoef told Sky Sports.
“We offered him the Kambosos fight and he said, ‘I’m passing, I want to stay and support my country’. We all respected that and Haney ended up with that. He is going to have to figure out in his own head and with his family and his country where he wants to be come Saturday night when there is a winner determined, whether he wants to be back in the sweepstakes for his profession or does he want to stay country-side with all the civilians there, protecting them and being as helpful as possible.”
Lomachenko last fought Richard Commey in December. He is currently enjoying a two-fight winning streak since losing his title to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020.
