When he stepped inside the ring the last time, he had just one ambition, to clinch back the title and move again to the top of the hierarchy. And Vasyl Lomachenko did it. You can’t keep him away from a gold strap. It has been the case since he showcased his mettle in amateur boxing. But the times have changed, and the Ukrainian fighter finds himself at a crossroads about his next move. Should he continue or should he bask in the sun after calling it quits?

That’s the question every fan is asking right now. Lomachenko, 36, shocked the boxing world, as the rumors of him contemplating retirement made headlines. Is it the end of an illustrious career?

Vasyl Lomachenko: meeting expectations and putting body on the line

After two amateur world championships, two Olympic gold medals, and multiple titles in three professional weight classes, Lomachenko has achieved it all. He has been at the top of the boxing world as far as we remember. His rapid ascent started with his amateur career and he did the same when he turned pro. But the IBF champion lacks motivation and zeal now.

When many believed he had met the end of the road after losing to Devin Haney, he mustered the strength and willpower to surmount another challenge. As they say, the allure of fighting never fades sway. But ‘Hi-tech’ is struggling with the same now. The pressure of being at the top for such a prolonged time is a daunting task and has taken a toll on him. While he has assured his greatness and legacy inside the ring, meeting the expectations of a top athlete is not an easy job.

It can lead to some tough decisions and one of them is deciding a good date for retirement for a celebrated legacy. Floyd Mayweather Jr. had summed up the situation justifying his decision to retire, “It’s all about being smart and knowing when to walk away. I didn’t want boxing to retire me.” Lomachenko, at 18-3, can’t continue to put his body on the line for long, and if he fights and clashes with younger fighters, he runs the risk of dropping the fights or even sustaining high-risk injuries.

In addition, that’s not how a boxing great should bow out. Retiring at the top of the game remains the ideal situation and the more you prolong it, the more disastrous the outcomes could be. Mike Tyson couldn’t do it and he paid it with a forgettable last fight, as he quit against Kevin McBride. The reason? ‘Iron Mike’ lost passion for the sports and grew tired of taking it seriously. Lomachenko’s fans would want him to avoid such a result, including not falling victim to the pitfall and regret of holding onto boxing longer than required. So, what can the southpaw boxer do?

What lies ahead for ‘Matrix’?

Artur Beterbiev, 39, is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career. Oleksandr Usyk, 37, etched his name in history books a couple of months back and Erislandy Lara, 41, is still a champion and going strong. Compared to them, Lomachenko still has a couple of years or at least a couple of career-defining fights in him. Do you remember how George Foreman made a mockery of age when he became a world champion at 45?

Lomachenko has dedicated his life to sweet science and it’s no wonder his body is not the same or he can’t be as quick and sharp as his younger self. But the former unified champion still has a couple of fights left and given the landscape of lightweight division, there are a couple of fights to be made. Walking a path for undisputed glory could be next, as Lomachenko can pick up Gervonta Davis or other champions at 135.

Alternatively, he can walk the exhibition path, which Mayweather Jr. popularized. He could still do what he loves but with lower stocks. But Lomachenko has nothing left to prove. He can take a leaf out of Lennox Lewis‘ boxing career, who realized earlier that he was content with what he had accomplished, and he retired at the top, on his terms.

What do you make of this scenario surrounding Vasyl Lomachenko? Do you believe the time is ripe for him to retire? Let us know in the comments below.