Mike Coppinger says Lomachenko plans to return later this year and is only interested in major championship fights
Vasiliy Lomachenko reportedly plans to return later this year without taking a tune-up fight first. Mike Coppinger said the former unified lightweight champion is already looking at Emanuel Navarrete and Gervonta Davis as possible opponents for the final stretch of his career.
“One of the names he’s looking at is Emanuel Navarrete, who is on our pound-for-pound list, who has a title at 130. So after that, I heard Lomachenko could be looking at Gervonta Davis. That was a fight that he was in talks to do in 2024,” said Mike Coppinger on the InsideRingShow, talking about Lomachenko’s plans for his comeback.
The comments came after another revealing update about Lomachenko’s mindset heading into the final stretch of his career.
“Lomachenko is returning in the fall of this year. He’s only targeting big names. He doesn’t want to fight any tune-ups, and that’s not surprise. For a guy like Lomachenko, he fought for a title in his second pro fight. He beat Gary Russell Jr., he destroyed him in his third fight,” said Coppinger.
A fight against Emanuel Navarrete would place Lomachenko directly into another championship fight despite being nearly a year and a half away from the ring. Navarrete currently holds the IBF and WBO titles at 130 pounds and has repeatedly pursued major-name opponents.
The mention of Gervonta Davis is also notable because talks for that fight circulated heavily in 2024 before Lomachenko stepped away following his stoppage win over George Kambosos Jr.
Lomachenko has spent most of his professional career avoiding slow rebuilds. Even early in his pro run, he moved directly into elite competition rather than taking developmental fights. That approach now appears unchanged heading into a possible fall return.
Loma wants the HEAT for his return to the ring! 🫡
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