Usyk and Lomachenko granted permission to leave Ukraine for upcoming fights
The Ukrainian government has given Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko have both been given permission by the cultural minister of Ukraine to depart the country in order to prepare for their upcoming fights against Anthony Joshua and George Kambosos Jr respectively.
Both Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko have been in Ukraine defending their country against the invasion by the Russian military which began in February.
Usyk, the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion is scheduled to make a defence of his titles against Anthony Joshua in June or July after the latter activated a rematch clause in their contract to earn the rematch for the titles.
Meanwhile, Lomachenko is looking to have a shot at the IBF, WBA and WBO titles held by the WBC franchise and the Ring lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr on June 5. The fights were in doubt but with this news, we would likely see the fights in mid-year.
There is no confirmation if Usyk would leave Ukraine to go defend the titles against Joshua but Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) is reportedly eager to go and train for the fight and will now be looking at finding a safe exit from the country with Russians almost striking everywhere in the country. But if he fails to leave for the fight, Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) will possibly face Devin Haney who holds the WBC lightweight title in the June 5 bout in Melbourne, Australia.
If Usyk does not want to leave and go for the title defence, Joshua will have to look for another opponent for his fight in June or July. Joe Joyce could be an ideal opponent, a match which Joyce is eager to take and recently had his team contacting AJ’s camp over a possible match with the Usyk rematch in doubt. If a fight between Joyce and Joshua occur, then the winner is likely going to meet the winner of the Dillian Whyte-Tyson Fury bout which comes on later in April.
Top Rank boss, Bob Arum broke the news and said the Ukrainian government sees it as a publicity channel and is well cooperating.
