Vasiliy Lomachenko confirms comeback at 130 pounds, says 'absolutely' to O'Shaquie Foster fight

Former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko has confirmed he is coming out of retirement to make one more run at becoming undisputed champion, this time at junior lightweight (130 pounds). The 38-year-old Ukrainian made the announcement on the DAZN broadcast in San Antonio on Saturday, October 24, where he was ringside for O'Shaquie Foster's unification win over Emanuel Navarrete. Asked whether he would like to fight Foster, Lomachenko answered: "Absolutely."

'Now I am 38 and I need to try one more time'

Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) has not fought since May 2024, when he stopped George Kambosos Jr. in the 11th round in Perth, Australia, to win the vacant IBF lightweight title. He announced his retirement in June 2025.

"I woke up one day and thought, 'Now I am 38 years old and I need to try one more time to become undisputed champion,'" Lomachenko said on DAZN, as quoted by BoxingScene. "Because if I wait until I am 40 or 41 years old then it will be too late. That's why I made the decision to come back."

He explained that the move down from lightweight was central to the decision. "[I retired] because I was tired from boxing. This weight class of 135lbs is not my natural weight," he said. "Now I am back, but I am back at 130lbs in my natural weight class. That's why I'm ready."

Lomachenko was careful about his timeline. "I will check next year and maybe next year I will fight and I will check my condition," he said. "Usual preparation looks very good, but no one knows what will happen with one month more or two months of preparation. We'll see, but right now everything is good."

Junior lightweight is where Lomachenko first won the WBO title in 2016 and made four successful defences before moving up. Undisputed status has eluded him throughout his career, most notably in May 2023, when he lost a disputed unanimous decision to Devin Haney for all four lightweight belts in Las Vegas.

First step: Charly Suarez?

According to Boxing News, Lomachenko told Fight Hub TV that his likely first opponent is Charly Suarez, the Filipino contender who fought Navarrete to an eighth-round no contest in May 2025. "My next step will be a fight with [Suarez]. It will be my first fight after rest and, after that, we'll see how I feel," he was quoted as saying.

That plan is not settled. Earlier this month, BoxingScene reported that a Suarez fight was off and that Lomachenko's team was targeting WBA champion Anthony Cacace instead. No opponent, date or promoter for Lomachenko's return has been officially announced.

Foster: get a tune-up first

Foster (26-3, 12 KOs) is now the WBC, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine junior lightweight champion after beating Navarrete by unanimous decision (118-108, 118-108, 115-111) at the Frost Bank Center. He scored two knockdowns in the 12th round. His stated next target is the winner of Cacace vs Nick Ball, who meet for the WBA title in Belfast on December 19, so he can become undisputed.

Foster is open to Lomachenko, but not straight away. In a post-fight clip shared by reporter Sal Arteaga, Foster said he would like Lomachenko to have a tune-up fight first, so there are "no excuses" when he beats him. Top Rank teased the match-up on X on Sunday, posting: "Foster vs Loma anyone?"

Lomachenko also praised Foster's performance at ringside. "It's a great performance. It was a very interesting fight, very skilful fight," he said, as quoted by Big Fight Weekend, pointing to Foster's "timing, combination, and boxing IQ."

What's confirmed and what isn't

Confirmed: Lomachenko says he is returning, at 130 pounds, and wants to fight for the undisputed title, with Foster as a target. Not confirmed: his comeback opponent, his date and his promoter. The WBA also has a mandatory challenger, Elnur Samedov, in line for the Cacace-Ball winner, according to World Boxing News, and that could complicate Foster's route to all four belts.