Former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) could return to the professional ring on February 13. His opponent will be WBO mandatory challenger in the super featherweight division, Charly Suarez (19-0, 11 KOs). According to Sport RBC.UA, representatives of both boxers expect to finalize the terms of the bout in the near future, and an official announcement could come as early as this week.

Deal Details and Probable Venue

At this stage, the sides are agreeing on most key contract parameters. The only significant issue that remains open is the choice of arena. Las Vegas is named as the most likely option, where most major boxing cards under the Top Rank and Golden Boy banner traditionally take place. Promoter Bob Arum, who is overseeing the event, is also pushing the idea of including a rescheduled title fight on the card, which should boost commercial interest in the event.

Fight Stakes: Winner Earns Shot at Unified Title

Victory in the Lomachenko-Suarez matchup will open a path for the winner toward a mandatory defense or a shot at the unified championship title. Currently, the WBC, IBF, and WBO belts in the super featherweight division belong to O'Shaquie Foster, who holds the status of unified champion. Thus, the outcome of February will be pivotal in determining the next challenger to the division's throne.

Undercard: Rescheduled IBF Vacant Title Fight

Bob Arum also intends to include the rescheduled IBF vacant super lightweight title fight on the February 13 boxing card. It will feature Mexican Lindolfo Delgado and Russian Artur Biyarslanov. Originally, this bout was scheduled as part of the Canelo vs. Mbilli card, but Delgado withdrew from that event, and the fight was postponed to a later date.

Suarez Camp Position: Arguments Against Lomachenko's Favoritism

Charly Suarez's co-promoter Sampson Lewkowicz publicly stated that his fighter has a real chance of defeating the Ukrainian. Among his arguments, he cited Lomachenko's long layoff from the ring, his age, and the circumstances surrounding the war in Ukraine. «Loma hasn't fought in almost two years, he's almost 40, and his focus is distracted by the war in Ukraine», Lewkowicz said. These words reflect an attempt by the challenger's camp to lower expectations around the favorite and frame the fight as an even contest.

Context: Lomachenko's Last Fight and Usyk's Support

Vasiliy Lomachenko last stepped into the ring in May 2024, when he defeated George Kambosos and captured the IBF lightweight championship belt. More than two years have passed since then, during which the Ukrainian has not fought a single professional bout. Previously, Oleksandr Usyk publicly supported Lomachenko's return to boxing, which was perceived by fans as a signal of the 39-year-old champion's readiness to continue his career. If the fight takes place on schedule, it will be Lomachenko's first bout since his victory over Kambosos and likely the final step before a potential showdown with Foster.