Full Breakdown
Lomachenko’s Return Sets Up Potential Showdown with Gervonta Davis
5/23/2026, 10:13:00 PM
Core Development: Lomachenko’s Planned Comeback and Davis Target
Ukrainian three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, who retired in June 2024 after an 11-round stoppage of George Kambosos Jr., has confirmed a return to the ring later this year as a promotional free agent. His stated priority is a bout with IBF/WBO junior-lightweight champion Emanuel Navarrete, followed by a “no-tune-up” fight against former WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis. Davis, who has not fought since a controversial draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in March 2025, remains the WBA’s “champion-in-recess” after being stripped of the title.
Background & Context
- Lomachenko: Olympic gold medallist (2008, 2012), professional record 18-3 (12 KOs). Cited back problems and waning motivation for his 2024 retirement.
- Davis: Last victory June 2024 (KO of Frank Martin). Stripped of the WBA lightweight belt in 2025, now champion-in-recess; legal issues and a cancelled exhibition with Jake Paul have kept him inactive.
- Oleksandr Usyk: Current heavyweight champion, publicly supportive of Lomachenko’s return, noting Lomachenko’s role in his own Olympic inspiration.
Key Figures & Groups
- Vasiliy Lomachenko – Ukrainian, former unified lightweight champion.
- Gervonta “Tank” Davis – American, former WBA lightweight champion.
- Oleksandr Usyk – Heavyweight champion, former Olympic boxer.
- Floyd Schofield – Top contender in the WBA lightweight hierarchy.
- Kenny Ellis – Member of Davis’ coaching team.
- Isaac Cruz – Potential Davis opponent, now training with Eddy Reynoso.
- Egis Klimas – Lomachenko’s longtime manager, confirming the comeback.
Timeline
- June 2024 – Lomachenko retires after Kambosos win.
- June 2024 – Davis defeats Frank Martin (KO).
- March 2025 – Davis draws with Lamont Roach Jr.; WBA strips title, names him champion-in-recess.
- Nov 2025 – Davis removed from Jake Paul exhibition after domestic-violence allegations.
- May 2026 – Isaac Cruz joins trainer Eddy Reynoso; reports confirm he will not face Davis next.
- Late 2026 – Lomachenko slated for fall comeback; negotiations with Navarrete and Davis ongoing.
Data & Statistics
- Lomachenko: 18-3, 12 KOs; Usyk: 24-0, 15 KOs.
- Davis: last win June 2024; no fights since March 2025.
- WBA lightweight title vacant; champion-in-recess status for Davis.
Why It Matters
A Lomachenko-Davis clash would unite two of the sport’s most marketable lightweight stars, potentially reshaping pound-for-pound rankings and generating a multi-million-dollar payday. The bout also tests Lomachenko’s performance after a two-year layoff and offers Davis a high-profile platform to revive his career amid legal and promotional setbacks.
Official Statements & Responses
- Usyk praised Lomachenko’s return, calling him “a motivation” for his own Olympic ambitions.
- Egis Klimas confirmed Lomachenko’s free-agent status and intent to fight at 130-140 lb.
- WBA reiterated Davis’s champion-in-recess designation while awaiting his next opponent.
- Floyd Schofield publicly asserted his claim as the “number one contender” for Davis, urging Lomachenko to wait his turn.
Criticism & Opposition
- Schofield argues Lomachenko must “join the queue” before challenging Davis.
- Ellis questions whether Davis would choose a fight with Lomachenko for legacy or purely for financial gain, labeling all lightweight options as “dangerous.”
- Analysts note uncertainty over Lomachenko’s sharpness after a prolonged absence and Davis’s legal distractions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Sources differ on Lomachenko’s immediate target: some cite Navarrete as the first opponent, others suggest a direct Davis fight.
- The timeline of Lomachenko’s comeback varies between “later this year” and a specific “fall 2026” window.
- Davis’s next opponent remains unsettled, with Floyd Schofield, Isaac Cruz (now unavailable), and Lomachenko all mentioned.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If it’s true, it’s good. I like it,” — Oleksandr Usyk, Heavyweight Champion
- “Loma is like a motivation.” — Oleksandr Usyk, Heavyweight Champion
- “In my humble opinion, I know that Lomachenko is a great, a legend, but I am the number one contender to fight ‘Tank’.” — Floyd Schofield, Contender
- “No, I think that ‘Tank’ will be the last one that he picks.” — Kenny Ellis, Davis’ Coaching Team
- “No, [it wouldn’t surprise me if he chose to fight Davis], that is the biggest payday.” — Kenny Ellis, Davis’ Coaching Team
- “?Breaking? Sources tell @FightsATW that Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz is now being trained by Eddy Reynoso.” — Abraham Gonzalez, Boxing Journalist
What’s Next
Lomachenko is expected to announce a specific fight date by late 2026, with Navarrete and Davis as leading candidates. Davis’s camp will likely negotiate with either Floyd Schofield or Lomachenko, while the WBA monitors his champion-in-recess status. Isaac Cruz’s new partnership with Eddy Reynoso suggests a shift toward other opponents, leaving the Lomachenko-Davis showdown as the sport’s most anticipated heavyweight-lightweight crossover.
