Boxing star Vasiliy Lomachenko decides to retire at age 37 - ESPN

Vasiliy Lomachenko has announced his retirement from boxing at the age of 37.

The Ukrainian sensation leaves behind a storied career as arguably the greatest amateur boxer in history and then a three-division world champion once he transitioned to the pro ranks.

«I'm grateful for every victory and every defeat, both in the ring and in life,» Lomachenko said in a video posted on social media Thursday. «I'm thankful that, as my career comes to an end, I've gained clarity about the direction a person must take in order to achieve true victory, not just in the ring.»

Lomachenko's decision comes just over a year after his last fight, an 11th-round TKO of former undisputed lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. There were preliminary talks of a blockbuster fight with Gervonta «Tank» Davis. The fight never came to fruition as, according to Lomachenko manager Egis Klimas, his fighter «didn't have the motivation» and took the rest of 2024 off to mull his future. As it turns out, his future would be walking away from the sport.

As an amateur, Lomachenko amassed a stunning record of 396-1, winning Olympic gold medals for his native Ukraine at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He decided to turn pro and signed with Top Rank Promotions, making his pro debut Oct. 12, 2013, defeating Jose Ramirez by fourth-round knockout. Rather than be brought along slowly, Lomachenko was thrust into a world title opportunity in his second fight, against WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido. Lomachenko fell short in his bid to become the first fighter to win a world champion in their second pro fight when he dropped a tough-luck decision. However, he would make good on his second attempt at a world