Gervonta Davis is looking for another opponent as Lomachenko chooses to take a break

VASYL Lomachenko will not fight Gervonta Davis at the end of the year. Although the fight is still possible in 2025, the fact that it has been pushed so far into the future, in an era of fighters that are already inactive, is a result of the temporary advancement of the lightweight division.

Some of the language used in the wake of Lomachenko's decision to call off talks that never started is revealing and frustrating, depending on your point of view. The Ukrainian star's manager, Egis Klimas, told boxing reporter Steve Kim that Lomachenko is “not in the mood right now.” Klimas also clarified that Lomachenko, 36, has not retired and will spend time with his family.

After losing to Devin Haney in May 2023, Lomachenko went through a period of soul searching before returning nearly a year later, on May 12 in Australia, to fight George Kambosos. That night in Perth, the 11th round stoppage was clinical and decisive.

Loma showed the best areas of his career, crushing Kambosos and walking away with the IBF title at 135. Promoter Bob Arum had been keen on a match with Davis, which seemed likely, before this revised announcement.

'Tank' Davis fought on June 15 in Las Vegas, stopping undefeated Frank Martin in the eighth round. While Davis is guilty of not fighting often enough (law enforcement has been in Gervonta's fun zone as much as any opponent in the ring), going out this December against a fighter of Lomachenko's caliber would be a solid two fight year.

A fight with Shakur Stevenson would be the best place. Stevenson has been enjoying life as a free agent since parting ways with Top Rank. So, that fight would be easy to put together – in theory, at least.