Former world boxing champion Lomachenko ends his sports career

Vasyl Lomachenko retired, the track and field championships took place amid shelling, Ukraine triumphed in rhythmic gymnastics, and Odesa residents were photographed with awards from France Football. Read more about this and more in Intent's digest of sports events from the South.

Boxing. Vasyl Lomachenko will not return to the ring

• This week, one of the most famous Ukrainian boxers, 37-year-old Vasyl Lomachenko from Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi, announced the end of his sports career. Vasyl has long been plagued by injuries, and he fought his last fight more than a year ago. He defeated George Kambosos and won the lightweight championship belt for the last time in his career.

Vasyl Lomachenko is a world champion. Photo: Top Rank

• In recent years, Vasyl's sporting and personal journey has caused a lot of controversy among Ukrainian fans. On the one hand, Lomachenko is one of the strongest boxers in history and has an impressive collection of titles.

Vasyl Lomachenko in a cassock at the service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate

• On the other hand, Vasyl often found himself in scandalous situations and was criticized in Ukraine. Mostly for his close ties with the Russians and his devotion to the Moscow Patriarchate. These are just some of the controversial moments with Vasyl over the past two years that Intent has written about:

• While the reaction and aftertaste of Lomachenko's career may raise questions for Ukrainians, it is clear to the world sports community that one of the most talented boxers of his generation, who probably never fully realized his full potential, is leaving.

"A legend in and out of the ring. For me, he is one of the best. Respect, champ."

- Shakur Stevenson, reigning world featherweight champion.

Athletics. Ukrainian championships under fire

The damaged Motor Hotel in Lutsk. Photo: Roman Melnyk/hromadske.ua

• The Ukrainian team championship in Lutsk was supposed to be another fairly ordinary competition that we probably wouldn't even write about. But on the night of June 6, Lutsk was shelled by Russian missiles and kamikaze drones. The hotel, where many athletes were staying, including Vladyslav Shepelev from Odesa, was damaged, but there were no physical casualties
• At the competition itself, Shepelev won the triple jump, showing the second best result in his career - 16 meters and 71 centimeters.

Events of the week

Izmail chess players and Magnus Carlsen. Photo: Izmail City Council

• Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk won the highly prestigious Norway Chess Women tournament in Stavanger. On her way to victory, Anna defeated the current world champion Ju Weizun with black and one of the world's strongest chess players, Humpy Koneru. Before that, the Norway Chess Open tournament was held there. We would also like to mention a young chess player from Izmail, Dmytro Husiev, who became the best in the "under 1600 Elo rating" competition.

Taisiya Onofriichuk. Photo: Ulrich Fassbender

• At the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, for the first time in 28 years, a Ukrainian won gold in the individual all-around - Taisiia Onofriichuk. In addition, the 17-year-old from Kyiv won two silvers and a bronze in individual events. In the team competition, Ukrainians (including Valeria Peremeta from Mykolaiv) finished second.

Photo: Intent

• In Odesa this Sunday, as part of a commercial campaign, people could take pictures with not one, but three "Golden Balls " at once- Oleg Blokhin (1975), Igor Belanov (1986) and Andriy Shevchenko (2004). However, only Belanov from Odesa was present among the winners.

Games and results

Photo: cev.eu

• Ukrainian volleyball players continue to dominate the Golden Euroleague. This week, the Ukrainians defeated Portugal (3:1) and Slovenia (3:0).

The Ukrainian national football team. Photo: UAF

• The men's national soccer team started a friendly tournament in Canada with a defeat against the hosts (2: 4). The photo before the match shows the uniforms of Volyn and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in honor of Roman Maksymiuk, a former football player and soldier who is considered missing.

Photo: Ukrainian Rugby.

• The Ukrainian men's rugby team has made it to the final of the first stage of the Europe Series Trophy in Croatia. In the final match, our rugby players lost to the Poles (12:17).

Traditionally, we wish you and your favorite athletes and teams good luck!

Адлен Муатс