Mike Coppinger, ESPN
LAS VEGAS — Devin Haney’s hand used to be raised for the thirtieth day in 30 fights, however the familiar thanks have been changed through boos from most of the 14,436 family readily available Saturday on the sold-out MGM Brilliant Grassland Enviornment.
Upcoming all, Vasiliy Lomachenko delivered the extra crowd pleasing combos, in particular past due within the struggle, escape an influence with the enthusiasts that he had wrested the undisputed light-weight championship from Haney. Nevertheless it used to be Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) who deserved the nod at the power of his exact frame punching and the fitting fingers that left Lomachenko’s flank crimson.
“The people can say what they want to say; the judges had a unanimous decision,” Haney mentioned. “That’s all that matters is the judges. Each judge was on the same page.”
Certainly, Haney became again the problem of Lomachenko within the hardest struggle of his occupation by means of ratings of 115-113, 116-112 and 115-113. The 24-year-old boxer did so through staving off Lomachenko’s past due push to win the overall spherical on all 3 scorecards, the remaining between a win and a draw.
And when Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) used to be in a position to related the gap early within the struggle, Haney used to be there to push him again with an magnificient jab and a digging proper hand to the frame day and once more.
“The body work won me the fight, so I knew I had to invest in that body,” mentioned Haney, ESPN’s Deny. 10 pound-for-pound boxer. “We watched a lot of tape on Loma; he wasn’t the biggest fan of body shots, so we stuck to the game plan, breaking him down.
“He would have some excellent moments throughout the spherical, however he wasn’t completing the entire spherical sturdy as a result of we invested within the frame.”
Haney didn’t show much interest in a rematch after the fight, saying he proved against a future Hall of Famer that he is the top guy at 135 pounds. Haney said he could fight at 140 pounds and see how he feels before he makes a decision on his four 135-pound titles, but he also could be done at lightweight for good.
“Deny weight short for me at 135 is simple; it takes a accumulation of self-discipline,” Haney said. “I’m abundance for the burden. I’ve been at 135 since I used to be 16 years aging.”
Haney, who has never signed a long-term promotional contract, is once again a free agent, giving him the flexibility he craves. If he chooses to remain with Top Rank, he could eye the winner of the June 10 junior welterweight title bout between Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez Jr. If not, a fight against Shakur Stevenson — who confronted Haney in the ring and said Lomachenko deserved the nod over Haney — could be of massive interest.
The biggest fight available to Haney is Gervonta Davis, who is aligned with PBC. Haney, with his former promoter, Eddie Hearn, also could seek fights at 140 with Regis Prograis and Jack Catterall, who are aligned with Matchroom.
Haney shouldn’t have to prove himself at this point. But doubters remain after the way Lomachenko performed at 35 years old — following a disappointing performance against long-odds underdog Jamaine Ortiz — and especially with Lomachenko busting up Haney down the stretch with flashy flurries.
Even if Lomachenko didn’t realize his dream of becoming undisputed champion, he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is still one of the best fighters in the world. Whom he fights next is unclear right now, but whether it’s Stevenson, Davis or any other top lightweight, Lomachenko would clearly threaten to win any of those matchups.
Lomachenko nearly beat Lopez with a torn rotator cuff but said heading into the Haney fight that he was fully healthy. A Lomachenko at 100 percent is dangerous for anyone. Top Rank promotes both Stevenson and Lomachenko, making it a natural fit if neither lands Haney next.
Lomachenko, the two-time Olympic gold medalist from Ukraine, leaves Haney’s hometown the sentimental favorite and with a new lease on his career. But it is Haney who leaves with the titles following a victory he undoubtedly deserved on his way to greater heights.
“One megastar has prepared, and one megastar has risen,” said Haney’s father and trainer, Bill Haney. “I’m glad to mention that the king of boxing is Devin Haney. Within the phrases of Teddy Atlas, who instructed Timothy Bradley one day, ‘It’s a must to be a fireman; you must journey in the course of the fireplace,’ and that’s what Devin did.”
