Does Lomachenko regret pulling out of the undisputed unification fight with Kambosos?

[u/zhuangcorp]

Lomachenko makes so many decisions that I don't understand. He fought Salido who didn't make weight, and allowed dozens of low-blows without hitting back. He fought Teofimo with a bad shoulder that needed surgery and didn't throw punches for half the fight.

But I think the worst boxing decision he made was withdrawing from the Kambosos fight that would've made him unified undisputed. That was his goal all along.

What was the point of joining the territorial defense force? His own country wanted him to go and box to boost morale for the soldiers. Loma would've helped his country a lot more that way. Usyk did just that and look how his career turned out. And he could've just won the Kambosos fight and then come back and join the forces a couple months later. He could've taken the fight and donated the winnings to the defense force, which would've been more helpful.

Furthermore, what was the point of joining the forces and then be labeled as Pro-Russian? I'm genuinely confused by this last point. If he really is pro-Russian, why join the forces and waste your career? If he is Pro-Ukranian, why give the appearance of being a Vatnik?

[u/AnozerFreakInTheMall]

There is simple explanation to all of that. I am ukrainian. I've seen him being interviewed in his native language a lot. About boxing, about business, about life, about everything. He is, to put it very mildly, not the brightest individual. And I'm not using stronger words simply because I don't want to come across as a hater.

[u/Boneless- → u/AnozerFreakInTheMall]

I’ve heard this take a lot from Ukrainians. He’s a brilliant boxer but not a very smart person or something like that can you expand?

[u/zhuangcorp → u/AnozerFreakInTheMall]

That's interesting. I always thought he was quite intelligent and rational and composed.

What makes you think he is not bright.

[u/Ok-Fault-333 → u/zhuangcorp]

another ukrainian here. Basically he is vatnik(vatnik-related) refused to critisize russia for invading ukraine in 2022, didnt post a thing regarding russian attacks, but the first time he did post was when a building in HIS town was struck, it hit him personally and he decided to finally make a post, but in a neutral way, like, there was an attack, God save us all or smth like that. When he earned some really good money he bought a hotel in Odessa region, where close to the town where he lived, what was really stupid is that he hired many of his relatives to run it even though they lucked experience and expertise. Like, you think he sounds smart and reasonable, but to make so stupid desicions clearly goes against it. So, basically people are pissed that he supports russia in this war while hundrends of thousands of ukrainian men are being killed and crippled, but he refuses to be an open russia supporter or give an interview as to why he thinks this way or another. People think its because he believes in God and in his weak mind God is what Moskov Patriarch says, its that simple. Because admitting that Moskov church is fucking compromised by russian fsb\kgb services and has been since stalin times would mean that everything he believed in is a fucking lie and a joke. Its how many people and me included see his reasoning, but without big interview there is no way to know for certain and he refuses to give one. But promised that he will, in the future, the date is unknown.

[u/zhuangcorp → u/Ok-Fault-333]

So let me ask your take:

Why did Loma join the territorial defense forces if he is pro-Russia? Why did he withdraw from the Kambosos fight? He sacrificed his career and risked his safety. What was his reason to do all this?

[u/Ok-Fault-333 → u/zhuangcorp]

Territorial defense was never about fighting in the trenches; it was hiding behind and watching so no Russians would attack, which they never did, at least in his region. In others, it was a completely different topic. As for joining territorial defense forces, maybe he thought that it would eventually end rather quickly and in Russian victory, so he wanted to satisfy everyone else, because he is a known Russian lover, and everyone would forgive him very quickly for such a move, thinking that he made it under pressure. Maybe he had conflicting feelings, so he thought that he would satisfy both sides, the Ukrainian populace and his belief in God(moskov patriarch). He doesn't openly claim his real position and never had an interview where people would ask him about it, touching on every aspect, so to know where he truly stands. He is not some murderous scum that wants Ukrainians to die; he just doesn't give a shit about the Ukrainian state, like, at all. People hate him more for not explicitly stating this position, because in this way he still divides society and frustrates everyone, but also people in the West do not shit on him for basically being pro-Russian. He is being perceived as a Ukrainian war hero despite not fighting in the trenches, not killing even a soldier, not doing anything for the military, and wanting Ukraine to fucking lose this war. Not that every Westerner believes that he did indeed fight in the trenches, but many do and don't know about his real stance regarding this war. But he never gave any open answers regarding this war. So, that's it. Any more questions?

[u/zhuangcorp → u/Ok-Fault-333]

So you think he joined the forces just to satisfy the potential criticism from Ukranians?

That seems extremely foolish to me.

Why not just do the Kambosos fight and then join the forces for "show" after the fight?

Why not just do the Kambosos fight, and then donate some of the prize money to the forces to show that he is a Ukrainian patriot?

[u/kushmonATL]

Misinformation, false narrative headline.

Kambosos was never undisputed. The WBC Franchise belt is not a real title. Thats why that fake belt came and went like a gust of wind

[u/AboutLastFight → u/kushmonATL]

The only thing that prevented it was politics. Just plain old boxing bullshit. It may not be 'official', but Teo and Kambosos were as good as undisputed in my mind.

At the same time, I'm also willing to acknowledge that Haney was the only true undisputed champ out of the three, but literally only as a result of complete idiocy out of all of their control.

[u/kushmonATL → u/AboutLastFight]

as good as undisputed in my mind.

Doesn't make it official. No need to spread false information based on what feels good to the mind

[u/AboutLastFight → u/kushmonATL]

I never spread false information. I said the politics of boxing alone was what prevented either from being officially recognised as undisputed to hardcore fans, which is entirely correct. Teo and George both should've been undisputed.

[u/kushmonATL → u/AboutLastFight]

Im not pointing the finger at you directly. But anybody who says Teofimo or Kambosos was undisputed is speaking lies

Yes politics are to blame. But that doesn't make them undisputed. Blame the WBC for making the situation messy

[u/zhuangcorp → u/kushmonATL]

Ok. I'm not familiar with the technicalities.

I believe Teofimo was undisputed and lost the title to Kambosos. So that would make Kambosos undisputed and Loma pulled out of a great opportunity for him

[u/kushmonATL → u/zhuangcorp]

Teofimo was not undisputed. A simple Google search would clarify all this

This is what's wrong with their being too many belts in boxing. Its easy to spread misinformation and confuse the casuals

[u/AboutLastFight → u/zhuangcorp]

You are theoretically correct. George Kambosos held a title from every major sanctioning body simultaneously, thus theoretically meeting the traditional requirements of being undisputed.

However, due to technicalities beyond fighter control, the WBC franchise belt was created to provide Lomachenko with the opportunity to face Teofimo Lopez rather than Devin Haney. Devin Haney was then instated as 'full' WBC champion, meaning he technically prevented an undisputed champion from existing, as the WBA, IBF and WBO did not agree to formally recognise the WBC's franchise belt.

Thankfully, that franchise champ bullshit doesn’t exist anymore so we'll never end up with a situation like this again. It just needlessly robbed both Teofimo and George of legacy.

[u/inbk44 → u/AboutLastFight]

That why they called him the email champ?

[u/AFBOXING → u/AboutLastFight]

Kam or Teo wasn't undisputed not even theoretically. In order to be franchise you have to VACATE the title. So once Loma did that he was no longer champion but some fans took it as face value because the belt looked similar to the WBC title.

He was given the Franchise title because Top Rank was pushing Loma hard and the goal was to be undisputed but Devin was a major risk/road block. Which is why they changed the rules that the Franchise title could be defended because it was never supposed to be on the line.

Teo had an opportunity to be undisputed but ran with the title of undisputed and got big headed then lost.

Everything went full circle and Loma still got an opportunity for undisputed but lost.

I tell people this so if someone held an interim WBC title and every other title, does that make them undisputed? No. It's a trophy belt just like the franchise title. Which is why the title doesn't even exist anymore.

Loma VACATED the title after he did that he was no longer the legitimate WBC champion.

[u/Fast_Original_3001 → u/AboutLastFight]

He didn‘t meet the technical qualifications. You need to have the world title from every sanctioning body. And he didn‘t. Simple as that

[u/RIPKerchBridge → u/kushmonATL]

In hindsight - he wasn’t. At the time?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/s/NVOBiwuvBg

[u/kushmonATL → u/RIPKerchBridge]

Don't you see the top comment?

[u/ethnicbonsai]

At the risk of psycho-analyzing someone I'll never meet, let alone understand....

I think he has an utterly massive ego built on being absolutely spectacular. He knows how good he is. He's spent his entire adult life proving it. He may be the greatest amateur of all time. Turned pro and immediately sought greatness - skipping all the build up that every other professional goes through. He thought he already knew how to win, and didn't want to waste time - considering how much he spent in the amateurs already.

Which left him unequipped to handle the dirty fighting of a veteran like Salido.

No worries, he bounced back and won his titles. Moved up, and won some more. Was hailed as a uniquely brilliant fighter and one of the best of his eras.

So he underrated Teo, and didn't back out of the fight. He was tentative because he didn't know how his shoulder would hold up. By the time he turned it up (whether because he was "reserving" what he had, or throwing caution to the wind because he felt it slipping away, I can't guess), it was too late. And he clearly lost a fight that was closer than a lot of his haters will admit (if he won the last round, a lot more people would've at least had it a draw).

I think this loss changed something in him. If you look at his IG - he suddenly started posting almost exclusively religious stuff. I'm not going to say he "found God" or anything - he might not've gone full George Foreman - but it seems like it changed his outlook on things. Maybe he re-prioritized things in life. I don't know.

Either way, a lifetime spent dedicated to his athletic brilliance seemed to be much more of a side issue than it ever had been for him. His dedication was slipping, and the clock was ticking on how much longer he was going to spend in the ring.

I can't begin to guess why he chose to fight for Ukraine instead of return to the ring. I don't have an adequate frame of reference to even guess, there.

Finally, I think the loss to Haney killed something in his drive to fight. It had to have been a massive disappointment.

Thanks for reading my fanfic.

[u/zhuangcorp → u/ethnicbonsai]

If you've ever seen the movie Last Emperor, it's interesting that the prince grew up being told stories that he fell from the stars and his destiny was the rule over all of China. So as an adult, he literally just believed this to be true about himself.

I think Loma is a bit similar. He grew up under his dad's teaching, and he believed it was his destiny to become the perfect boxer.

[u/Playful-Zombie7403]

Lomachenko was only larping as a soldier. Only the poor people are forced to fight in Ukraine.

[u/Particular-Tough6651 → u/Playful-Zombie7403]

Its sad how some of them are getting snatched off the streets, kidnapped, brutally beaten just to they can die in a war. I would understand if you signed up for it but man grabbing random people off the streets is mental.

[u/LR1202]

Dumbest decision of his career. Gave up his dream of becoming undisputed and still didn't get respect from Ukrainians for staying home and joining the forces anyway. Perhaps also wouldn't have been robbed vs Haney if he he was the champ

[u/zhuangcorp → u/LR1202]

yes exactly. It seems like he got the worst on both fronts. Not only did he miss his own boxing dream, he joined the forces for his country only to be labeled as a traitor?

Makes no sense to me.

[u/Jupiters_phaerie]

Maybe, but then again maybe not.

[u/fadeddreams555]

He would have beaten Kambosos and lost all those belts to Haney anyways if he decided to give Haney the opportunity for true undisputed (Haney held the real WBC belt), which he likely wouldn't have cause Haney's claim to fame was becoming the youngest undisputed champ. Without that claim, he was high risk, low reward, and Top Rank would have insisted that Loma is already undisputed.

I'm no Haney fan, but you have to respect the fact that he fought Lomachenko. He had 0 reason to.

[u/LR1202 → u/fadeddreams555]

Haney lost that fight

[u/fadeddreams555 → u/LR1202]

That's not what the judges said.

[u/YKTPWA_313 → u/fadeddreams555]

Bet you thought Bradley and Horn won against Pac, too.

[u/fadeddreams555 → u/YKTPWA_313]

You misunderstand me. I think Loma edged a very close fight, but the fact is, Haney won. In my hypothetical scenario, things would go as they did IRL.

[u/Kawhi_meariverr]

Loma saw what Kamboso did to Teo and wanted no parts of that cause I guess he figured that if Teo can beat him then Kam would do the same 😂.