Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko | ESPN PPV - May 20, 2023

[Jake Savage]

I've been watching boxing 30+ years guys, my whole life. Love the sport. If there's one thing I've learned its that generally speaking, this is a young man's game. Watching a 45 year old Bernard Hopkins getting knocked the fcuk out of the ring by unknown Joe Smith Jr., just proves the point. Hopkins at 29 years old wouldve knocked Joe Smith out, in my opinion. Watching Tyson Fury outbox a 37 year old Wladimir Klitschko, then Klitschko being TKOd by Joshua at age 39, 2 guys who he probably would've beat if Wladimir was say 29. Watching Gennady Golivkin at age 36, 38 and 39 be robbed against an in his prime Saul Canelo Alvarez in his 20s. I firmly believe if GGG had been in his 20s also he would've fcuking knocked Canelo out, nevermind a decision, be that as it may I still thought GGG won. Adonis Stevenson at 38 years old, who at the time was a 7 or 8 year reigning champ getting brutally KOd and hospitalized, almost dying, by a much younger Oleksandr Gvozdkyk another example that we cant turn back the clock and beat "father time". Gvozdyk was a tough customer but I think a 29 year old Stevenson might have slightly came out on top.

We don't beat time. No one does.

Boxing is a young man's sport.

Here we have a 24 year old up and coming Devin Haney VS a 34 year old former champ Vasily Lomachenko. Might I also add that age shows up quicker in lighter divisions, so a 34 year old lightweight li like Loma is equivalent to a 37+ say heavyweight. I'd say the odds favour Haney. Lomachenko is an elite boxer and has never beenKOd so I think a KO win for Haney is unlikely. But I do think the youth, and speed will favour Haney. I also think the judges will favour Haney as he is younger, has more upside, is American and more marketable due to his age and nationality.

Lomachenko is 6 or 7 years after his prime. His prime was 2016, we are now in 2023 7 years later, 2016 was when he beat Rigondeaux and Walter's by stoppage. Those were huge wins at the time and the truth is Haney wasn't even as good as Rigondeaux.

The more interesting question is who would've won in their primes? Haney or Loma? I think both 2016 Lomachenko and even 2016 Rigondeaux, who Loma beat, would easily TKO Haney of today.

[DrDuke]

I've been watching boxing 30+ years guys, my whole life. Love the sport. If there's one thing I've learned its that generally speaking, this is a young man's game. Watching a 45 year old Bernard Hopkins getting knocked the fcuk out of the ring by unknown Joe Smith Jr., just proves the point. Hopkins at 29 years old wouldve knocked Joe Smith out, in my opinion. Watching Tyson Fury outbox a 37 year old Wladimir Klitschko, then Klitschko being TKOd by Joshua at age 39, 2 guys who he probably would've beat if Wladimir was say 29. Watching Gennady Golivkin at age 36, 38 and 39 be robbed against an in his prime Saul Canelo Alvarez in his 20s. I firmly believe if GGG had been in his 20s also he would've fcuking knocked Canelo out, nevermind a decision, be that as it may I still thought GGG won. Adonis Stevenson at 38 years old, who at the time was a 7 or 8 year reigning champ getting brutally KOd and hospitalized, almost dying, by a much younger Oleksandr Gvozdkyk another example that we cant turn back the clock and beat "father time". Gvozdyk was a tough customer but I think a 29 year old Stevenson might have slightly came out on top.

We don't beat time. No one does.

Boxing is a young man's sport.

Of course, you general idea is correct, but there's something to argue. Well, at 20 Golovkin was an amateur, definitely raw for the high level pro boxing. But that's not the main point. In modern times it's easier to last longer because of the advanced (sport) medicine and the improved overall quality of life. Today you can see a crediible 30+ boxer more often. And the likes of Hopkins and Klitschko were the slow starters, who reached their physical primes much earlier than boxing primes. Of course, by the moment of the Joe Smith fight Hopkins was done, but you won't find many fighters, who were on top by the 40s. And Wlad had a relatively safe career, with the minimum of hard-fought battles, so it's less surprising about him to last that long. I doubt that there's a version of Wlad, which can handle the Gypsy King. And with Joshua he had a good fight before he got caught.

Here we have a 24 year old up and coming Devin Haney VS a 34 year old former champ Vasily Lomachenko. Might I also add that age shows up quicker in lighter divisions, so a 34 year old lightweight li like Loma is equivalent to a 37+ say heavyweight. I'd say the odds favour Haney. Lomachenko is an elite boxer and has never beenKOd so I think a KO win for Haney is unlikely. But I do think the youth, and speed will favour Haney. I also think the judges will favour Haney as he is younger, has more upside, is American and more marketable due to his age and nationality.

Lomachenko is 6 or 7 years after his prime. His prime was 2016, we are now in 2023 7 years later, 2016 was when he beat Rigondeaux and Walter's by stoppage. Those were huge wins at the time and the truth is Haney wasn't even as good as Rigondeaux.

The more interesting question is who would've won in their primes? Haney or Loma? I think both 2016 Lomachenko and even 2016 Rigondeaux, who Loma beat, would easily TKO Haney of today.

Loma is likely to be past prime now, but what indicated his decline in the bouts vs Linares and Campbell?

[apollo creed]

Its a combo of aging and facing younger top level opposition. Also Loma is a small framed fighter compared with Lopez, Haney, Tank, Garcia.

[margaret thatcher]

dev will use that good long jab , make loma come to him, loma will be reluctant to throw. dev will win 116-112/117-111/115-113 cards

[AngryGoon38]

Hopkins was 52 when he fought Joe Smith Jr.

The 45 year old version of Hopkins was still a Very Formidable Champion Calibre Boxer.

He would've taken Smith when he was only 45.

The 45 year old version of Hopkins was like A 35 year old version of GGG.

Remember, Hopkins has that Special Space Alien Blood !

[DrDuke]

dev will use that good long jab , make loma come to him, loma will be reluctant to throw. dev will win 116-112/117-111/115-113 cards

Sounds realistic. Yet I fancy the second 116-112 instead if 115-113.

[Jake Savage]

- 2016/2017 Lomachenko would TKO Haney of today in my opinion.
- 2017 Guillermo Rigondeaux, who was TKO'd by Lomachenko in 2017, would also TKO Haney of today in my opinion. Guillermo Rigondeaux was a phenomenal fighter and was a much better technical fighter than Haney is today. The fact that in 2017 Loma stopped him is a testament to how good Loma used to be, Rigondeaux was easily a P4P player and Haney will never get to the level that Rigo was at.
- 2016 Nicholas Walters, who was TKO'd by Lomachenko in 2016, would be a 50-50 fight with Haney of today in my opinion.
- Gary Russell Jr., who Lomachenko beat in his 3rd or 4th pro fight, I forget the exact year but probably around 2013 or so at that time, would also be a 50-50 fight with Haney of today in my opinion.

Vasily Lomachenko's best days, his prime, were in 2016 and 2017. That is 6 or 7 years ago now.

Lomachenko is now 34 years old, which for a lightweight is old. Lighter guys rely more on speed and thus show their age sooner than heavier guys, so a 34 year old lightweight is roughly equivalent to say a 37 year old heavyweight.

So, Devin Haney VS Lomachenko of today, I expect Haney to win a decision. The problem for Lomachenko will be that he's lost some speed from his earlier days, I noticed in his fight VS Teo Lopez, he also had a problem of not being active enough and not letting his hands go. That is a problem many older fighters have (Klitschko VS Fury comes to mind, so does Hopkins VS Joe Smith Jr). He will not be able to sustain the pace of the fight and output enough offense to beat Haney.

I expect Haney to win a decision. I do think you will see a couple moments where Lomachenko looks brilliant in this fight though. He is an elite boxer and will not have lost his technical skills, just his speed, activity and pace. So, I expect a close fight, but Haney to get the decision.

Boxing is funny and always goes full-circle though. One day it will be Haney who is 34 years old, fighting an up and coming 24 year old.

[DrDuke]

2016 Lomachenko would TKO Haney of today in my opinion.
2017 Guillermo Rigondeaux, who was TKO'd by Lomachenko in 2017, would also TKO Haney of today in my opinion.
2016 Nicholas Walters, who was TKO'd by Lomachenko in 2016, would be a 50-50 fight with Haney of today in my opinion.
Gary Russell Jr., who Lomachenko beat in his 3rd or so pro fight at that time, would also be a 50-50 fight with Haney of today in my opinion.

I'd say you overrate Lomachenko of those times and underrate current Haney. I'd favor Haney confidently over all those opponents of Loma.

[Bandog]

Lol @ Rigo beating Haney. Rigo moved up 2 weights to get the Loma fight. Haney is huge compared to Rigo, and has the skills besides. Not taking away from Rigo's talent, but he wussed out vs Loma. He was also in his mid 30's.

[Ruthless-RKO]

On Haney vs Lomachenko

“We’re looking at the end of May, and we’re determining what the best site is for it. We’ll have an announcement hopefully within the week.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

tank and garcia diva-ing around, but dev actually putting in dat work

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Haney wants to make a big impression if he faces Lomachenko – World Boxing Association

According to media reports in recent months, the undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney, could face Vasyl Lomachenko in his next fight, although there has been no official announcement about this bout.

However, Haney has already been talking openly about the fight and his desire to prove himself against an opponent like the Ukrainian.

“I will prove how superior I am at this point in my career,” the 24-year-old fighter assured in an interview with SecondsOut.

“I told him a long time ago, ‘fight me now because you’ll only get worse,’” he said about “Loma,” who is 35 years old now.

“Right now, I’m a different fighter. I’m a much more mature fighter right now than when I was challenging him, years ago, although I think I would have won anyway,” he continued.

The Haney-Lomachenko bout would be an interesting generational fight for the boxing world and is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

[Evander]

Lomachenko said May 20th in Las Vegas.
Hopefully this will be formally announced soon, things are picking up if it turns out to be true.

[Cent0089]

I would cheer for Loma for first time, just because everybody writing him off and he would be an underdog

[Evander]

Some are completely writing Lomachenko off which surprises me.
Haney's size will be a problem, but Lomachenko is a decorated amateur and professional, so unless his chin collapses overnight it's hard to see how he can't come up with something in the boxing department that will trouble Haney.
Kambosos was limited against Haney for two reasons, size and ability, Lomachenko has plenty of ability.

[gregregegg]

I think loma is prime for prime pound for pound better than Haney. But Haney is way bigger and wayyyyy less miles on the clock.

Lomas style relies on unreal reflexes, if there off by a couple of percent it’s mission impossible.

[Evander]

I think loma is prime for prime pound for pound better than Haney. But Haney is way bigger and wayyyyy less miles on the clock.

Lomas style relies on unreal reflexes, if there off by a couple of percent it’s mission impossible.

Yes there is that no question, good eye.
That said if Haney's youth and size are the factors that could swing it in his direction, Lomachenko would be well advised to expect to dig deep and make sure his boxing A game is finely tuned coming in.
11 year age gap between them will take some doing on Lomachenko's part though, however I have never seen Lomachenko out of shape and he's physically better than his years suggest.
Haney has 15 KO's in 29 fights, tells me he can hit a bit and box well but he's not necessarily seen as a big hitter so to speak.
Neither is Lomachenko to be fair, both of them seem to rely on the systematical break up of the opponent over a course of time rather than through a single punch or rally.

[Bandog]

Haney's size advantage may be a bigger thing if he didn't have to weaken himself to make the weight. I expect him to win but in a close fight.
Eventually, guys like him and Spence will lose if they keep melting down like they do, and they'll deserve it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Sweet Dick Willie]

What do you mean, wasn't this finalized like months ago??

[Ruthless-RKO]

What do you mean, wasn't this finalized like months ago??

Date was finalised. I think they both knew they were fighting next.

It was mostly finalising the venue.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sources: Devin Haney, Vasiliy Lomachenko finalizing May 20 title fight

Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko are finalizing a deal for a May 20 fight in Las Vegas for the undisputed lightweight championship, sources told ESPN on Friday.

The fight for Haney's four 135-pound titles will be an ESPN PPV, sources said.

Haney, a practicing Muslim, preferred to fight Lomachenko before Ramadan, a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset that begins March 22 and ends April 21. However, he recently told ESPN he conceded to the May date to accommodate the Top Rank on ESPN schedule.

"It's hard to train and do a full training camp when you're fasting because you can't eat from sun up to sundown," Haney, 24, said during an interview with ESPN at the end of January. "I would have to spar and drink no water during the daytime, or I would have to just not train until nighttime, but I train two to three times a day, so I couldn't cram in two or three workouts just in the nighttime."

Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) captured the undisputed championship in June with a wide-points win over George Kambosos in Australia. Haney returned to his opponent's home country for the October rematch and again prevailed in a rout.

Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) was lined up for the shot at Kambosos before Russia invaded Ukraine. He elected to remain in Ukraine rather than head to Australia for the fight, and the opportunity headed Haney's way.

Haney, who fights out of Las Vegas, is ESPN's No. 1 lightweight and No. 9 pound-for-pound boxer. Lomachenko is ESPN's No. 2 boxer at 135 pounds and was widely recognized as the pound-for-pound king before his upset loss to Teofimo Lopez in 2020.

The 35-year-old Lomachenko is a former three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He defeated Jamaine Ortiz in October via unanimous decision in a far tougher than expected fight.

"At one point Loma was No. 1 pound-for-pound," Haney told ESPN in January. "He was the guy that everyone was praising and even though his last performance wasn't his best performance, he's still someone that you cannot sleep on."

Haney was the WBC's No. 1 contender in 2019, but rather than fight him, Lomachenko was elevated to franchise champion, a designation the Mexico-based organization created that allowed titleholders to evade mandatory obligations.

The fight will likely be Haney's last at 135 pounds, he said, before he moves up to 140 pounds, another reason he "wanted the fight to be sooner than later."

At 140 pounds, Haney could meet the winner of the June 10 bout between Josh Taylor and Lopez, but there's also Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis who meet at a 136-pound catchweight April 22.

[gregregegg]

I simply can not believe any pro athletes follow Ramadan, it must be insanely difficult.