Oleksandr Usyk and Vasyl Lomachenko have been given permission to leave Ukraine and train for their next fights, according to promoter Bob Arum.
Usyk had been due to face Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight title rematch in May or June, and Lomachenko had hoped for a fight with unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. in Australia.
However, when Russia invaded Ukraine both men returned to their home country to assist with the military defence. Additionally, no men of fighting age are currently allowed to leave Ukraine if they need to be called up to serve the war effort.
As a result, both fights were thrown into doubt, and it had been suggested that Kambosos could fight Devin Haney or another lightweight contender, and that Joshua might take part in a tune-up fight against someone like Joe Joyce.
However, speaking to Fanatics View, Arum claimed: “The Ukrainian government, which is tremendous, are co-operating with us as far as Lomachenko and also Usyk.
“They realise there’s tremendous publicity value in having them come out, train and participate in title fights.
“Hopefully the war will then be over, but if it isn’t, [they will then] go back into defence mode.
“So I don’t know where that stands with either guys, whether they’re going to accept the offer of the cultural minister of Ukraine to leave and to train for fights.”
It is not clear whether either fighter will take up the offer.