Top Ukrainian boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasiliy Lomachenko has turned down a title match in order to remain with his family, defending his country.
Last month, Lomachenko agreed to fight Australia's George Kambosos Jr., the current major lightweight titleholder and widely undisputed lightweight champion.
The fight was scheduled to take place on June 5 in Melbourne, but with Russia continuing to wage war on his country, Lomachenko has changed his plans.
The 34-year-old boxer joined a territorial defense battalion in Ukraine and flew from Greece to his home outside of Odesa to be with his family last month.
On Monday, ESPN was informed by Kambosos' promoter that Lomachenko has decided to stay in Ukraine instead of leaving the country for training camp.
Lomachenko's manager, Egis Klimas, reportedly informed Kambosos' promoter, Lou DiBella, of the news on Monday, Boxing Scene reported.
DiBella said that he and his client "commend" Lomachenko for his decision to continue his fight for his country instead of fighting the lightweight champion.
"We think the fight he's fighting is much bigger than boxing," DiBella told Boxing Scene. "And our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and with the Ukrainian people. What they're going through, obviously, is far more significant than any boxing match."
ESPN reported that "efforts were being made to allow elite athletes" to depart from Ukraine, despite the country's martial law requiring men between the ages of 18 and 60 to stay.
While DiBella and Lomachenko's promoter Bob Arum, were holding out for him to participate in the fight, DiBella shared he was not surprised.
"We had an inkling the other day, when the [Ukrainian] government had said it was OK [for Lomachenko to fight], but we didn't hear an affirmative response [from Lomachenko], we had a sense that this was likely," DiBella told Boxing Scene.
Kambosos shared on Twitter that he has nothing but respect for Lomachenko's decision.
Kambosos is now set to fight American boxer, Devin Haney.
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