Abel Sanchez believes Vasiliy Lomachenko should stay retired, even with the lure of a final undisputed championship run hanging out there. The veteran trainer points directly to age and inactivity as major red flags, making clear he would urge the Ukrainian maestro to reconsider any planned return.
Lomachenko, now 38, aims to campaign at super featherweight, viewing unified champion O’Shaquie Foster as his route toward all the belts. Charly Suarez remains in the mix as a potential test run, though nothing is official.
“I would try to dissuade him,” Sanchez said to Fight Hub TV when asked how he would advise someone in Lomachenko’s shoes. “I would obviously support any kind of decision like that, but I would do my best to point out all the pitfalls and the negatives of it. Obviously, there’s a lot of positives to it, too. But you’re not talking about him fighting for the undisputed at 38. You’re talking about at 40.”
Sanchez doubts the promotional gears can turn fast enough for Lomachenko’s timeline. Foster holds three major titles at 130 pounds, which leaves another belt holder to negotiate with down the line before a full coronation can happen.
Beyond scheduling headaches, Sanchez worries a late loss could tarnish Lomachenko’s legacy. He cited Sugar Ray Leonard’s painful defeat to Terry Norris in 1991 as a cautionary tale of what happens when legends stay too long.
That comparison stretches things a bit. Dropping a decision to Foster at 38 after sitting out wouldn’t undo what Lomachenko built. Most observers understand the physical tax of Father Time. Besides, there is real honor in targeting elite champions rather than milking tune-ups against soft touches.
The real question centers on what Lomachenko has left in the engine. His trademark side steps, pinpoint timing, and sudden angle changes rely on elite reflexes. Reflexes slip quickly when age catches up, and prolonged breaks outside the ropes only muddy the waters further.
Suarez offers a genuine gauge if that bout gets made. The Filipino contender shares the same birth year at 38, yet his gritty display against Emanuel Navarrete proved his engine is intact. A victory there gives Lomachenko far more honest feedback than beating up a designated fall guy.
Sanchez argues Lomachenko needs exactly that type of litmus test before hunting world titles. It has little to do with appeasing ringside spectators. The fighter himself needs an honest self-assessment before walking into deep waters.
“If he wants to do it and his heart is in it, go ahead,” Sanchez said. “But I would love to see a tune-up fight, not for us to gauge him. Forget us, for him to gauge himself.”
