Undisputed lightweight king Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) and former three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) made their grand arrivals today in Las Vegas ahead of their PPV showdown this Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Devin Haney: “I’m going to put on a dominant victory. I’m going to go in there and impose my will on Loma and show the world how great Devin Haney really is, how versatile, how strong, how young, and how experienced I am in that ring.”
Vasiliy Lomachenko: “I believe that when you say something, you need to prove it. I have a lot of experience in boxing, and anything can happen during a fight. I just think about what I need to do during a fight. And my goal is to become the undisputed champion of the world.”
Maybe undisputed at 130. And he (Loma) may make 128 lbs catchweight for a super fight with a lower weight guy. If he gets close on Haney, and punches through attempted clinches by Haney, may be closer than people think it can be.
I want Loma because I so fondly remember his special streak of simply destroying everyone in his path. He took down Walters and Rigondeaux with ease, when they were considerably high ranked on the P4P list. Making that caliber of opponent look silly really awed me.
Haney is also special.I guess I am just more used to his style of boxing so I’m not as psyched about it. 3 years ago give me Loma. For Saturday, though. I will say Haney (oh the pain to type that). 116-112 or somewhere in there. Maybe 115-113. Shakur beats both of them, though, at this point—I feel.
No dominance, I’m afraid. Any honest boxing authority is not going to say dominance by either man here. It’s just not realistic.
It’s a good time to be a fan.
Dude Rigo was so much smaller than him that doesn’t count.
So does it count if Haney beats Loma, as Loma is much smaller than him?
Yes! Great time to be a fan! I’m also leaning on Haney as I think Loma’s odometer is high and may reveal itself on fight night!
He only has 19 fights and Haney was trying to fight him 3 years prior and Loma refused. Don’t make excuses for Loma now.
Everyone was trying to fight Loma back then, many of them nobodies like Haney was at the time.
At that time, Haney fought no body jay. Haney still ain’t fought no body. He should be happy that he has the fight now. Loma is boxing circles around him anyway.
Man all you do is repeat yourself. Most annoying commenter ever.
Loma is at least 3 years past his best but he’s still a formidable fighter. It’s just that the clinching style of Haney coupled with the Ukrainians bad shoulder is a bad matchup, but in Haney’s favor. Loma is still a better pound for pound fighter than Haney, but his body is just too worn down and he’s too small to be favored to win this fight. With that being said, he has already accomplished more than Haney ever will in this sport.
Yes, Loma’s shoulder has been surgically repaired at least twice now that I’m aware of, he’s had 397 amateur fights, and he’s 35 years old. No doubt the wear & tear is catching up to him, plus the size difference that you mentioned is very noticeable when you see them side by side. Haney SHOULD win this. I’m just wondering if Loma’s power will have any effect on him. Not sure how well Haney takes a punch….he was wobbled at the end of the 10th round against Linares, and I think Loma is still good enough to find Haney’s chin more than any previous opponent has. I doubt it will be enough though. Haney UD, although I wouldn’t bet on it.
Don’t use 396 fights as an excuse. When he was beating Axe-man etc he also had 396 fights. Haney wanted to fight him years ago.
So, you don’t think 397 amateur fights contribute to wear & tear? Axe-Man was 7 years, 100+ Pro rounds, and 2 surgeries ago for Loma. It all takes a toll. He’s on the downside, no question about that, and I’m not particularly a Loma fan, and have no reason to make excuses for him. Those are facts that can’t be ignored, and the reasons I’m leaning Haney in this one. Haney is younger, bigger, and the fresher fighter.
Sounds like an excuse. Haney was trying to fight him 3-4 years ago and he wanted no parts of him. Loma relinquished the title to avoid him.
Ever will? You’re clairvoyant, too?
Haney needs to stick and move if he going to win, since Loma is a better overall boxer. Only thing I worry about for Loma is the size of Haney.
This fight should have happened 3-4 years ago. Lomachenko refused his mandatory.
I believe Lomachenko can pull this one off. Haney is not a big puncher to hurt Loma. Speed they are close, experience goes to Loma; better opposition Loma; Angles Loma
Mental edge goes to Haney. Loma didn’t want to fight him in the first place.
Haney will win by a unanimous decision, “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” as the great Ali would say ..youth , exuberance, speed ,skill,and that special “something”,,,,,Haney has it all !
He has all that but NOT that “special something.” I think Tank and Shakur have that but not Haney.
Does Lomachenko have a realistic chance against Haney?
Put it this way. Loma relinquished his title 3-4 years ago against a 20 year old mandatory Haney who was calling him “no machenko” because he didn’t want to fight. Haney only got better. That equals no chance.
Time for Spence-Crawford to get their act together! Seriously!!!
A “loud mouth negro” who is about to show why black excellence has been dominating 135. Who is going to beat Haney, Tank or Stevenson outside of themselves? I’ll wait…
LOMA TKO 11th.
It’s haneys job as younger bigger fighter to make thjs fight exciting ..if he does his same boring bullshit I would tell Loma to do the same and let the judges decide who did less..If Haney comes out of his scared first style and comes forward and actually throws, he’ll leave himself open for potshots..I don’t see haney dominating even with size and age..he beat kambosis in 2 of the boringest fights but didn’t dominate ..he won almost every round but none were dominant ..lomachenko is much smarter and more technically gifted than kambosos
Loma in 7