Vasiliy Lomachenko turns down world title shot against George Kambosos Jr to stay and fight in Ukraine

Vasiliy Lomachenko will reportedly stay in Ukraine to aid his country in its defence against Russia’s invasion, alternatively than leaving the country to challenge George Kambosos Jr for the Australian’s light-weight titles.

Lomachenko returned house to Ukraine last month to enlist in the territorial military as Russian troops invaded the region, which has also been bombed amid the ongoing invasion.

The former many-body weight winner has been joined in defending his country by compatriot Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles, and brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko – the latter of whom is mayor of Kyiv.

Promoter Bob Arum discussed this 7 days that Lomachenko and Usyk have authorization to go away Ukraine, which very last month enacted a law barring all men between the ages of 18 and 60 from fleeing.

Usyk had been expected to rematch Anthony Joshua this spring, having dethroned the Briton in London in September, even though Lomachenko was lined up to battle Kambosos Jr.

The Australian, who is now established to just take on Devin Haney, took to social media to pay out tribute to Lomachenko and validate that the Ukrainian will keep on being in his household region, composing: “I respect your decision and I completely understand and I pray for you and your state.

“Please continue to be protected and at the time I wipe the flooring with Devin, we will make this fight amongst two actual champions. God bless.”

It is as however unclear no matter whether Usyk will continue to be in Ukraine or acquire up the opportunity to go away and coach for his contractually-obligated rematch with Joshua.