Vasyl Lomachenko is as of 2018 considered to be the best pound-for-pound active boxer after he has been able to win titles in three weight divisions in a record of twelve fights. He did so after conquering amateur boxing by winning consecutive gold medals at the Olympics and World Championships, amassing a record of 396 wins and 1 loss which makes him the most successful amateur boxer of all time.
Age, Early Life, and Rise to Fame
Lomachenko was born Vasyl Anatoliyovich Lomachenko to Tetiana and Anatoly Lomachenko, on the 17th of February 1988, in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, Ukrainian SSR. His mother was a gymnastics trainer while his father was a boxing coach. Lomachenko himself was interested in becoming a professional ice hockey player but his father instead persuaded him to pursue a boxing career. Before ever getting to step into the ring, Lomachenko’s father ensured his son attended ballet and gymnastics classes in order for him to learn footwork and balance.
Vasyl Lomachenko kicked off his amateur career at the 2007 World Championships held in Chicago where he won silver after falling to Albert Selimov. Lomachenko was able to avenge that defeat at the 2008 Olympic Games where he won gold and was awarded the Val Barker Trophy as the outstanding boxer of the tournament. He went on to win gold again at the European Championships that year and at the World Championships in 2009.
In 2011, Lomachenko moved to the lightweight category to compete at that year’s World Championships after the boxing federation scrapped the featherweight division. He again was dominant in this new division as he won gold to become a two-weight world champion. At the 2012 Olympics Games, Lomachenko won his second consecutive gold medal, however, this time in another division, making him a two-weight Olympic champion. After that tournament, Vasyl Lomachenko, who had amassed an impressive amateur record decided to turn professional.
Lomachenko began his pro career in the featherweight division by beating Mexican fighter José Ramirez. He controversially lost his second fight to Orlando Salido for the vacant WBO featherweight title but was able to win it in his next fight against Gary Russell Jr. because Salido vacated it by not making weight. Lomachenko was able to successfully defend his title on three occasions before moving up to the super featherweight/junior lightweight division where he beat Román Martínez to collect his WBO super featherweight title.
Vasyl Lomachenko was able to beat four challengers, including the unbeaten Jamaican boxer Nicholas Walters to retain his title before choosing to again move up the weight divisions to fight WBA and The Ring Magazine lightweight champion Jorge Linares. Lomanchenko survived a knockdown to beat Linares and claim the title in May 2018, taking his professional boxing record to 11–1.
Vasyl Lomachenko Wife and Family
Details about Vasyl Lomachenko’s personal life are not widely known as the boxer prefers to keep the limelight away from his life and on his career. But despite the secrecy, the boxer is known to be married to Elena Lomachenko. Again, not much is known about who she is, what she does, and how they met, but we can clearly state that they are enjoying their marriage since there have not been any reports of infidelity or separation as they usually appear happy whenever they are seen in public.
Together, the couple has a son named Anatoly Lomachenko. The date and place of his birth are not known.
Vasyl Lomachenko Net Worth
It is believed that Vasyl Lomachenko has a net worth of $8 million which he has been able to accumulate through the prize money he has won from his various fights.
The former WBO featherweight title holder’s first huge payday came in November 2015 when he earned $750,000 from his fight with Romulo Koasicha. He went on to earn $1 million from his bout against Jamaican boxer Nicholas Walters and then took home $1.2 million from two different fights with Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jorge Linares.
Height and Weight
Despite measuring 2 inches below the average height of lightweight division boxers, Vasyl Lomachenko, whose height is listed at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) has still been able to pose a threat. He further weighs 129 pounds (59 kg).
