IBF lightweight champion Vasily Lomachenko is dealing with a back injury and will continue his career if he gets the green light with tests on the matter.
Lomachenko's health
Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) turns 37 on Feb. 17 and will fight just once a year starting in 2022. He's not young and has campaigned in a division he's too young for at 135, routinely facing bigger numbers.
Gervonta Davis (30) would like to fight Lomachenko if he continues his career. Six years ago he wanted nothing to do with Lomachienko, but the interest is high now that he has aged and lost several times.
That would be a good salary for a Ukrainian talent. It would be risky, though, and there's a good chance Lomachenko could be on the receiving end of a controversial decision loss, just like his loss to Devin Haney on May 20, 2023.
Tank would be the A-side, superstar money fighter, and Lomachenko might have to do something extraordinary to get the decision. That's his downside in the fight with the Baltimore native.
There is a risk of being mugged or knocked out again if caught by one of Tank's big pieces. If Lomachenko doesn't agree to fight Baltimore native Gervont, boxing fans will believe he's a chicken and fear a heavy loss. This would make him appear weak in the eyes of fans.
Dealing with critics
Lomachenko has already been criticized for not agreeing to a fight with a defensive artist Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson is seen as a poor version of himself without attacking ability.
If Loma decides to continue his career, it is unlikely that he will return to 130 in the super featherweight division as it would not make financial sense. Apart from Emanuelo Navarrete, a seasoned lightweight, there are no stars in that weight category.
Lomachenko looked excellent in his last fight, knocking out former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. in the 11th round to win the vacant IBF 135 lb belt on May 12 in Perth, Australia.
The movement, skills and precision shots are still there, Lomachenko. He played better than he has in years, but he didn't face a huge slugger like he did against Haney, nor did he struggle against a huge hitter in Gervonta.