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Because of the Russian: IBF gives Lomachenko an ultimatum
Former world champion in three weight categories Vasyl Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) has been ordered to return to the ring by October 8 this year. Otherwise, the 36-year-old lightweight from Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi will be stripped of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) belt.
The IBF informed Lomachenko's representatives about this, journalist Jake Donovan writes on his page on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter. The Ukrainian boxer was granted a medical exemption due to his health problems and his mandatory title defense was postponed.
At the same time, the federation has scheduled a fight between Russian Zaur Abdullayev (20-1, 13 KOs) and American Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) for the interim champion title. It is the winner of this confrontation that Lomachenko will have to fight until mid-fall.
If Vasyl refuses the fight, the stronger in the Abdullayev – Muratalla duel will be promoted to the title of full IBF titleholder.
Lomachenko was planning to return to boxing in 2025 to defend the belt he won in May 2024 by defeating George Kambosos by TKO in the 11th round in Australia.
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