Devin Haney says he’ll take “same offer” as Lomachenko for Kambosos fight

By Boxing News - 02/16/2022 - Comments

By Sean Jones: Devin Haney has quickly responded to the news of Vasily Lomachenko agreeing to his side of a 2-fight deal to challenge four-belt lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. on June 5th in Melbourne, Australia, by saying he’ll agree to the same agreement.

Unfortunately, WBC lightweight champion Haney (27-0, 15 KOs) might need to do more than match the offer agreed to by Lomachenko.

It’s fair to say that Haney is starting to seem desperate at this point, knowing that he’s about to lose out on the fight that could turn him into a star overnight. Whatever it takes for Haney to get the fight, he needs to be ready.

If that requires him to smother Kambosos with false compliments, saying how good he is, then, by all means, do it.

Haney needs a win over Kambosos to turn him into a star, but for him to get the chance, he’s going to have to agree to whatever his promoter Lou DiBella is asking.

If Haney, 23, wants the fight, he’s going to likely need to take less money than Lomachenko for the honor of challenging Kambosos (20-0, 13 KOs) for “them beautiful belts” at the 53,345-seat Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

“He wants legacy, he wants undisputed – Devin Haney will do everything he can to make this [George Kambosos Jr] fight happen. He’s probably willing to take money he may feel isn’t the right money for this fight. I feel like there are no excuses,” said Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn to the DAZN Boxing Show on Tuesday.

With Haney talking of wanting to move up to 140 soon, he can’t afford to miss out on this opportunity to fight for the four belts against the vulnerable champion Kambosos. Haney might need to accept a 90/10 split to get the fight against the self-trumpeter Kambosos. Whatever it takes.

Put it this way. If Haney fails to get the fight, Lomachenko will likely school Kambosos and snatch his four “beautiful belts” off him in front of his Aussie fans.

Image: Devin Haney says he'll take "same offer" as Lomachenko for Kambosos fight

Once Lomachenko has those straps, Haney will be up the creek because he doesn’t possess the talent to beat Loma, in Sean Jones’ opinion.

I mean, we saw how Haney was forced to clinch nonstop to run out the clock after being hurt multiple times by 36-year-old Jorge Linares in 2021.

Had the referee done the right thing by penalizing Haney multiple times for his excessive holding in rounds nine through twelve, Linares would have won the fight.

My point is if Haney can’t even beat a fighter like Linares without gaming the system with his nonstop holding, how in the world is he going to defeat a much better fighter in Lomachenko?

That’s why Haney must agree to whatever Kambosos and his promoter Lou DiBella are asking for in this fight if he wants to get his hands on those four belts.

Let’s face it, Kambosos is there for the taking for almost any of the top 15 contenders in the division. He’s flawed and ripe for the picking.

It’s up to Haney whether he wants to take those belts before Lomachenko does because if he fails to get his hands on those straps, it’s pointless to stay at 135. He should move up and forget about fighting for those titles because he’s not good enough to beat Lomachenko.

For Haney’s sake, hopefully, he doesn’t have to agree to a three-fight deal with Kambosos or give options to his promoter Lou DiBella to co-promote him for several fights involving his fighters.

Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) is showing that he’s willing to bend over backward to get the fight against IBF/WBA/WBC Franchise/WBO 135-lb champion Kambosos Jr. by agreeing to a rematch clause so that he can have the opportunity to face him.

Lomachenko, 33, can afford to take the little money because he’ll likely be a massive favorite against Kambosos Jr.

“Lomachenko’s message to Top Rank has been clear: Get me the Kambosos fight. Whatever financial sacrifices Lomachenko has to make for a shot at becoming a four-belt champion, he’s willing to make,” said Chris Mannix of DAZN.

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